Module 5

A series of research studies conducted in recent years show that new experimental methods of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment have been adopted in the global medical context. From the articles’ perspective, rheumatoid arthritis has no cure and systematic global discoveries indicate that remission of symptoms is highly probable when treatment begins at an early stage.  The strong medications used to treat a patient with rheumatoid arthritis is known as disease-modifying anti- rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) collectively. The type of medication recommended by a doctor depends on the severity of the symptoms and how long the patient has had rheumatoid arthritis(Crowley & Crowley, 2014).

 Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, hence the correlation between the patient’s autoimmune body tissues and the immune system. The immune system constitutes a complex organization of cells and antibodies that seek and destroy invaders of the body, particularly diseases. It is unfortunate that the antibodies and immune cells in blood of the autoimmune-diseased patient target body tissues resulting in inflammation(Crowley & Crowley, 2014). This is the main reason why Susan Arnold, a rheumatoid arthritis patient, begins to develop significant joint damage.

According to the article, suppression of the immune response is more appropriate for a patient with an autoimmune disease because it will play a fundamental role in the prevention of undesirable further effects that may be directed towards the patient’s cells and body tissues(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, n.d.). This should be explained to Susan Arnold. The use or introduction of Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs slows or alters the progression of rheumatic arthritis by stopping the immune system from attacking the healthy tissue. Therefore, the physician’s decision to prescribe an immunosuppressant for Susan Arnold’s rheumatoid arthritis is supported. An explanation of this reason will help Susan Arnold to embrace and accept the doctor’s decision to suppress her immune system as she needs early treatment of her condition to decrease the severity of its symptoms.

References

Crowley, L. V., & Crowley, L. V. (2014). Essentials of human disease. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (n.d.). Autoimmune Diseases.