Research could pave the way for new arthritis treatments

29 Jun 2009 - Posted by the Editorial Team

A new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis could be developed following a discovery by scientists at Imperial College London, UK.

It was revealed that a signal molecule made by the body is responsible for triggering the body's immune system into action - something that could have implications for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The study authors suggested that, if scientists could block the signal, new treatments for the condition could be developed.

Lead author Dr Kim Midwood said that existing treatments are not effective in large numbers of arthritis patients.

"We hope our new findings can be used to develop new therapies that interfere with tenascin-C activation of the immune system and that these will reduce the painful inflammation that is a hallmark of this condition," the expert explained.

Approximately half of rheumatoid arthritis patients do not respond to one or more of the current treatments, and even if they do work, they can become less successful over time.

In 2006, it was shown that as many as one in five adults in the US suffered from arthritis.

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• HUMIRA 40 mg
  Rheumatoid arthritis : Humira in combination with methotrexate, is indicated for: § the treatment of moderate to severe, active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients when the response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including methotrexate has been inadequate. § the treatment of ...
• ECONAC
  ... in a wide range of conditions, including: arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis , osteo-arthritis , ankylosing spondylitis, acute gout; acute musculoskeletal disorders such as peri-arthritis (eg, frozen shoulder), tendinitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis; other painful conditions resulting ...
• NEORAL
  ... in whom conventional therapy is ineffective or inappropriate. Rheumatoid arthritis NEORAL Soft Gelatin Capsules and NEORAL Oral Solution are indicated for the treatment of severe, active rheumatoid arthritis in patients in whom classical, slow-acting antirheumatic agents are inappropriate or ...
• INDOCID
  Indocid Capsules and Indocid Suppositories: Rheumatoid arthritis , osteoarthritis , degenerative joint disease of the hip, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gouty arthritis, lumbago, acute peri-articular disorders, orthopaedic procedures. Dysmenorrhoea. Indocid-R: As above except acute gouty arthritis ...
• ARCOXIA Film-coated Tablets
  For the symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, and the pain and signs of inflammation associated with acute gouty arthritis. The decision to prescribe a selective COX-2 inhibitor should be based on an assessment of the individual patient's ...
• MEDRONE
  ... 1. Endocrine disorders Primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency Congenital adrenal hyperplasia 2. Rheumatic disorders Rheumatoid arthritis Juvenile chronic arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis 3. Collagen diseases/arteritis Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis ...