Rheumatoid Arthritis Infusion Therapy
Optimum Infusion provides clinically supervised, specialty infusion therapy, for patients living with Rheumatoid Arthritis, in a private, comfortable setting with careful monitoring throughout treatment.
Caring for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect your joints, energy, and daily routine in ways that are hard to predict. If you have reached the point of infusion therapy, we want the next step to feel clear, comfortable, and well coordinated.
At Optimum Infusion, patients receive care from a dedicated clinical team focused on attentive, coordinated infusion support in a comfortable setting.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Unlike osteoarthritis (which is caused by joint wear and tear), RA is driven by immune dysfunction and it can affect not just the joints, but also the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
RA symptoms tend to fluctuate between flares and quieter periods, but without treatment the condition can lead to permanent joint deformity and disability. Early diagnosis and treatment substantially improve long-term outcomes — getting on the right therapy in the first months of disease can prevent damage that’s harder to reverse later.
Causes & Risk Factors
- Genetic predisposition are the strongest known genetic risk factor
- Smoking — the most important environmental risk factor; it interacts with genetic susceptibility to dramatically raise the risk of more aggressive, seropositive RA
- Occupational exposure to silica dust (common in mining, sandblasting, construction)
- Hormonal factors. RA is 2 to 3 times more common in women than men, and onset often clusters around hormonal transitions
- Obesity and a history of periodontal disease are also associated with higher RA risk
Common Symptoms
- Swollen, tender, stiff joints — usually starting in the small joints of the fingers, toes, and wrists
- Symptoms that are typically symmetrical, affecting both sides of the body
- Morning stiffness lasting 30 minutes or more
- Persistent fatigue
- Low-grade fever during flares
- Unintentional weight loss
- Rheumatoid nodules (firm lumps under the skin near joints) in some patients
- Dry eyes, eye pain, or shortness of breath in patients with systemic involvement
Diagnosis
- Evaluation by a physician
- Blood tests including rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibody (anti-CCP/ACPA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Imaging — X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI to assess joint damage and monitor disease progression
Treatment Approaches
- NSAIDs for pain and inflammation
- Corticosteroids for short-term flare management
- Conventional DMARDs, first-line disease-modifying therapy
- Biologic therapies targeting specific immune pathways
- JAK inhibitors targeting specific inflammation pathways
- Joint surgery in select cases of advanced damage
Comfort designed around you
Our infusion center is designed to provide a calm, welcoming experience with comfortable seating, privacy dividers, and personal attention throughout your visit.
Clinical care you can trust
Infusions are administered under your provider’s orders, with experienced nurses monitoring your care throughout treatment.
Timely access to care
Once we receive your referral, our team works quickly to begin the intake and insurance process and coordinate your care.
Benefits of Infusion Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Treatment that targets inflammation
Many biologic therapies are designed to target specific parts of the immune system involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis. This focused approach may help address inflammation while avoiding broader effects on the body.
An option when other treatments have not helped
For some people, standard treatments do not provide enough relief. Infusion therapy may offer another option to help manage symptoms and support long-term disease control.
Care with ongoing monitoring
Your infusion is given by experienced nurses under your provider’s orders and established clinical protocols. If monitoring is needed, your care team is there to watch you closely and provide support during treatment.
Connected care with your physician
After each visit, clinical notes are shared with your provider. This helps keep your treatment plan organized and supports communication between your care teams.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapies at Optimum Infusion
Our team administers the following IV biologic therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Your physician determines which therapy is appropriate for your diagnosis and disease history. Optimum Infusion administers the treatment as ordered.
Actemra
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Learn more
Infliximab
- Crohn’s Disease
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ulcerative Colitis
Learn more
Orencia
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Learn more
Submitting A Referral Is Straight Forward
Once we receive the required order and supporting documentation, our team starts the intake process and insurance verification as quickly as possible. We work closely with referring providers to coordinate treatment and keep communication clear throughout the process.
Your Experience At Optimum Infusion
Whether this is your first infusion or you’re transferring your care to us, here’s what your experience will look like.
A Comfortable, Relaxing Environment
Your infusion takes place in a thoughtfully designed setting with comfortable seating and privacy dividers that help create a calm, personal space. Whether you’d like to read, stream a show, work, or simply relax, our goal is to make your time with us as comfortable as possible. A guest is welcome to join you during your visit.
Attentive Care from Start to Finish
A registered nurse monitors you throughout your infusion according to medication-specific protocols and your provider’s orders. Vital signs are checked when appropriate, and our team remains available during your visit. If you have had infusion reactions in the past, please let us know before your appointment.
Know What to Expect
Infusion times vary depending on the medication and dose. Some visits may last several hours. Before your appointment, our team will provide an estimated treatment time so you can plan your day with confidence.
Helpful Resources
- American College of Rheumatology. Rheumatoid Arthritis — Patient Information. https://rheumatology.org/patients/rheumatoid-arthritis
- Sugiyama D, Nishimura K, Tamaki K, et al. Impact of smoking as a risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19479873/
- Klareskog L, Stolt P, Lundberg K, et al. A gene-environment interaction between smoking and shared epitope genes in HLA-DR provides a high risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15476204/
- Mayo Clinic. Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648
This information is for general education and isn’t medical advice. Your prescribing provider decides whether a therapy is right for you. If you have questions about your treatment, talk with your provider.