DMARD
|di-mard|
🇺🇸
/diːˈmɑrd/
🇬🇧
/diːˈmɑːd/
drugs that change disease course
Etymology
'DMARD' originates from English, specifically the phrase 'disease-modifying antirheumatic drug', where 'disease-modifying' meant 'altering the course of a disease' and 'antirheumatic' meant 'acting against rheumatic disease'.
'DMARD' was coined in late 20th-century medical literature as an acronym for the phrase 'disease-modifying antirheumatic drug'. The full phrase was formed from the descriptive elements 'disease-modifying' + 'antirheumatic' + 'drug' used in rheumatology and pharmacology.
Initially, 'DMARD' most commonly referred to conventional synthetic agents (e.g., methotrexate, sulfasalazine); over time the category expanded to include biologic DMARDs and targeted synthetic DMARDs, broadening its clinical usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an abbreviation for 'disease-modifying antirheumatic drug'; a class of medications that slow or alter the progression of rheumatic autoimmune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis) by modifying the underlying disease process rather than only treating symptoms.
The rheumatologist started the patient on a DMARD to help prevent joint damage.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/16 02:16