[ study of the effect of drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis on nitric oxide production of peritoneal macrophages in Balb/C mice]

ABSTRACT

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder characterized by polyarthritis in association with various systemic symptoms. Nitric oxide [NO] production is increased in serum and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients and may be involved in the inflammatory process. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of various drugs used in the treatment of RA on NO production and if this effect varies with respect to the drugs that were tested