Rheumatoid Arthritis Research: Looking Toward Future Treatment

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Saturday, 19 April 2008

Future Treatments

Scientists throughout the world are studying many promising areas of new treatment approaches for rheumatoid arthritis. These areas include treatments that block the action of the special inflammation factors, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), as described above. Many other drugs are being developed that act against certain critical white blood cells involved in rheumatoid inflammation. Also, new NSAIDs with mechanisms of action which are different from current drugs are on the horizon.

Studies involving various types of the connective tissue collagen are in progress and show encouraging signs of reducing rheumatoid disease activity. Finally, genetic research and engineering is likely to bring forth many new avenues of earlier diagnosis and accurate treatment in the near future. Gene profiling, also known as gene array analysis, is being identified as a helpful method of defining which people will respond to which medications. Studies are underway that are using gene array analysis to determine which patients will be at more risk for more aggressive disease. This is all occurring because of technology improvements. We are at the threshold of tremendous improvements in the way rheumatoid arthritis is managed.

Recent antibody research has found that the presence of citrulline antibodies in the blood (see above in diagnosis) has been associated with a greater tendency toward more destructive forms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis At A Glance

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect persons of all ages.
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions.
In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually, but not always, affected in a symmetrical pattern.
Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.
Damage to joints can occur early and does not correlate with symptoms.
The "rheumatoid factor" is an antibody blood test that can be found in 80 % of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis optimally involves a combination of patient education, rest and exercise, joint protection, medications, and occasionally surgery.
Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis results in better outcomes.

For further information about rheumatoid arthritis, please visit the following sites:

The Arthritis Foundation (http://www.arthritis.org)
P.O. Box 19000
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(or contact your local chapter)

For additional information, please contact:

National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Clearinghouse
Box AMS
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
301-495-4484

VitaDocs Medical Reference from MedicineNet