How Do Other Rheumatologic Drugs Work?

Other rheumatologic drugs are medications that are not categorized into any of the specific classes of rheumatologic drugs. Each of the other rheumatologic drugs works in unique ways and they are used in the treatment of conditions that include autoimmune and arthritic diseases.

The medications that are grouped under other rheumatologic drugs include:

• Belimumab: Belimumab is a biological drug used to treat different forms of lupus, a group of inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Belimumab controls inflammation by inhibiting the activity of B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), a protein that stimulates immature B-cells to become mature plasma B cells that produce antibodies.
• Collagenase clostridium histolyticum: Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is a medication used to treat Dupuytren’s and Peyronie’s diseases, which are caused by tissue hardening from the buildup of collagen, a structural protein in connective tissue. Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is an enzyme that breaks up collagen.
• Pegloticase: Pegloticase is a medication used to treat gout, a painful condition caused by excess uric acid in the blood getting deposited as crystals in the joints. Pegloticase is an enzyme that converts uric acid into a more soluble compound that is easier to excrete.
• Hyaluronic acid and derivatives: Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body that provides moisture and lubrication throughout the body. Hyaluronic acid and its derivatives are purified extracts from animal tissue or bacteria, injected into the knee to lubricate the joint and relieve pain from osteoarthritis.
• Sodium hyaluronate: Sodium hyaluronate is a sodium salt of hyaluronic acid and works as a lubricant in the knee joint and relieves osteoarthritic pain. Sodium hyaluronate is also used in the eye during certain eye procedures and in the management of wounds and ulcers.

Other rheumatologic drugs may be administered as:

• Intravenous (IV) injections or infusions
• Subcutaneous (SC) injections into the tissue of the treatment area
• Intraarticular injections into the knee
• Instillation into the eye during certain eye procedures

The FDA-approved uses of other rheumatologic drugs include the following:

• Belimumab
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in multiple organs including skin, joints, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels
  • Lupus nephritis, kidney inflammation due to SLE
• Collagenase clostridium histolyticum
  • Dupuytren’s contracture, a painless deformity in the hand due to hardening of tissue under the skin
  • Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which scar tissue causes the penis to have curved, painful erections.
  • Cellulite, fat deposits under the skin
• Pegloticase
  • Gout, a painful condition caused by excessive uric acid in the blood which gets deposited as crystals in joints
• Hyaluronic acid and derivatives
  • Osteoarthritis of the knee is an age-related degenerative disease caused by the wearing out of cartilage in the knee
  • Emphysema (lung disease) due to alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (orphan designation), an inherited disorder
• Sodium hyaluronate
  • Osteoarthritis of the knee
  • As an ophthalmic viscoelastic device to protect the cornea during certain eye procedures

Side effects of other rheumatologic drugs vary with each type of drug. A few of the most common side effects include:

• Belimumab:
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Pyrexia (fever)
  • Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of nose and throat)
  • Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial passage)
  • Insomnia
  • Pain in the extremities
• Collagenase clostridium histolyticum:
  • Peripheral edema and pain in the injected hand
  • Contusion
  • Injection site reactions, swelling, and hemorrhage
  • Pruritus (itching)
  • Lymphadenopathy (lymph node swelling)
  • Penile pain, swelling, and hematoma
  • Bruising, nodule, and pain in the injected area
• Pegloticase:
  • Gout flares
  • Infusion reactions
  • Nausea
  • Urticaria (hives)
  • Chest pain and discomfort
  • Erythema (redness) and pruritus (itching)
  • Nasopharyngitis
• Hyaluronic acid and derivatives:
  • Tenderness and swelling
  • Firmness
  • Bruising
  • Skin discoloration
  • Lumps/bumps
  • Pruritus
  • Arthralgia (joint pain)
• Sodium hyaluronate:
  • Arthralgia
  • Headache
  • Injection site pain
  • Anaphylaxis like reactions
  • Erythema (redness) and discoloration
  • Tenderness and swelling
  • Lumps/bumps

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of some of the other rheumatologic drugs include:

• Amvisc
• Amvisc Plus
• belimumab
• Benlysta
• collagenase clostridium histolyticum
• collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes
• Durolane
• Euflexxa
• Gelsyn-3
• GenVisc 850
• Healon
• Healon GV
• Healon5
• Hyalgan
• hyaluronan
• hyaluronic acid and derivatives
• hylan G-F 20
• Hymovis
• Krystexxa
• Monovisc
• Orthovisc
• pegloticase
• Qwo
• sodium hyaluronate
• Supartz
• Supartz FX
• Synvisc
• Synvisc-One
• Triluron
• TriVisc
• Visco-3
• Xiaflex