More Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Reported November 15, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and limitation in the motion and function of multiple joints. The disease affects nearly 1 million Americans and is expected to affect many more in the future.
TNF inhibitor therapy has often proven successful in reducing the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. TNF-alpha is a protein produced to mobilize white blood cells to fight infections. These blood cells then build around the infected area causing inflammation. Once the blood cells have destroyed the infection, the TNF-alpha protein is disposed of, the white blood cells no longer mobilize, and the area that was once inflamed returns to normal.
For people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, the body never recognizes the infection has been destroyed. Therefore, the TNF-alpha proteins are never disposed of and white blood cells continuously attack areas in the body creating pain and stiffness for rheumatoid patients.
TNF inhibitor therapy disposes of the proteins and ceases the white blood cell attacks. Yet, for many patients, this therapy has not produced desired results, and there are few other treatment options. At the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego this week, however, two other alternatives were presented.
CNTO 148 and Rituximab are both anti-TNF antibodies that block the white blood cell attacks and prevent swelling and inflammation. These antibodies can be taken alone or in conjunction with the TNF inhibitors and can significantly reduce patients’ pain. Researchers believe these treatments may spell the difference in success for many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
SOURCE: American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting 2005 in San Diego, Nov. 8 – Nov. 16, 2005