類風濕性關節炎（rheumatoid arthritis; RA）是一種全身、慢性發炎及自體免疫性疾病。類風濕性關節炎早期主要症狀為關節滑膜發炎，隨著疾病惡化，病患面臨關節軟骨及骨頭本身被逐漸破壞，可能進一步影響全身其他器官使得罹病率增加，甚至增加死亡率。目前臨床上用於治療RA的藥物有：非類固醇類止痛劑（NSAIDs）、改善疾病狀態的抗風濕藥物（DMARDs）及類固醇（glucocorticosteroids）等，但是這類藥物所產生的副作用，卻足以使得病患無法忍受而需要更換藥物。最佳的治療結果需要醫療專業團隊的一起合作，且必須建立一套嚴謹的疾病改善及藥物毒性監控機制，以便確認臨床療效及避免可預防的嚴重藥物不良事件的發生。

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic, insidious, autoimmune inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized primarily by articular inflammation and destruction and often involving multiple systems. Course may be mild and relapsing or, more commonly, severe and progressive leading to joint deformity and invalidism. The current major pharmacologic treatment for RA is a combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and/or glucocorticosteroids. However, due to side effects of these drugs, patients’ regimens have to be changed as necessary. Optimal longitudinal treatment requires comprehensive coordinated care and the expertise of a number of health professionals. However, essential components of management should include an explicit plan for monitoring RA disease activity and drug toxicity to avoid any severe adverse drug events.