(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The findings of a new study could offer hope to the more than 2 million Americans with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers from the Netherlands discuss a new approach to treating RA that appears to show success in early laboratory studies.

Study authors used a targeted approach to treat rats with RA. They used tiny vesicles called liposomes to deliver a steroid directly into the cells that form the walls of blood vessels, which are critical to the inflammation characteristic of RA.

The rats in the active treatment group and those that received a placebo were monitored. The severity of the arthritis experienced by the rats was graded. The grading was based on redness, swelling at the paw, and joint immobility. They found the rats treated with the active medication showed significantly stronger anti-inflammatory results and delayed disease progression than those that received a placebo or a slightly different form of the active treatment.

Researchers expect future studies to examine the precise mechanism involved in the drug delivery, and say they may consider using this method for the delivery of other anti-inflammatory drugs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability. The cause of RA is unknown and there is no cure, but new drugs are making the disease easier to live with for many.

SOURCE: Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2006;54:1198-120