Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug

[1][2] The term is often used in contrast to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (which refers to agents that treat the inflammation, but not the underlying cause) and steroids (which blunt the immune response but are insufficient to slow down the progression of the disease).

[citation needed] DMARDs can be further subdivided into traditional small molecular mass drugs synthesised chemically and newer "biological" agents produced through genetic engineering.

[8] When treatment with DMARDs fails, cyclophosphamide or steroid pulse therapy is often used to stabilise uncontrolled autoimmune disease.

Some severe autoimmune diseases are being treated with bone marrow transplants in clinical trials, usually after cyclophosphamide therapy has failed.

Furthermore, should DMARDs fail, tocilizumab can be used for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor treatments in NICE guidance.