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Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms & Treatment Study

Medical Studies for New Treatment of Autoimmune Disease & Joint Pain

Jun 2, 2009 Bernard P. Nelson

Kyoto University medical study of a new drug combination to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms when conventional treatment is not effective for this autoimmune disease.

“Some patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffer from disease that is refractory [hard or impossible to manage] to both conventional therapy and newer biological agents such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) [A protein that increases severity of chronic inflammatory diseases] inhibitors...” according to an article titled, “B Cell Depletion Therapy Using Anti-CD20 Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis.”

The article about a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is dated April 17, 2007, and is published on the PubMed web site. The study is by Kyoto University, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Authors of the study are Yukawa N, and Mimori T.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms & Osteoporosis Link

“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and deformity of the joints. Other problems [linked to RA].....inflammation of blood vessels...development of bumps...lung disease, blood disorders, and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis),” according to the Farlex Medical Dictionary on-line.

The Kyoto University study states that there is a better understanding of the B cells, and a B cell marker CD20, contribution to the immunopathogenesis (the development of a disease in which an immune response or the products of an immune reaction are involved) of RA.

Autoimmune Disease Drug Combination Approved by FDA

The Kyoto University article states that the drug rituximab (nonoclonal antibody) “...effectively depletes B cells...efficacy of rituximab in RA has already been demonstrated...US Food and Drug Administration has approved...combination of RTX (rituximab), a chimeric monoclonal anibody against CD20 [B cell marker], with methotrexate [Also named amethopterin. A toxic antimetabolite used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].” The drug combination is prescribed when patients have little response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies. The study concludes that “The long-term efficacy...and long-term safety need to be further investigated.”

The Farlex Medical Dictionary states about rituximab, “Life-threatening effects include leukopenia [reduction of blood leukocytes], neutropenia [low level of white blood cells], thrombocytopenia [drop in number of blood cells that form clots], and bronchospasm [muscle contraction of the of the bronchi, as in asthma].” Some of the adverse effects are fever, chills, headache, and hypotension (low blood pressure). Some of the common side effects are vomiting, rash, and nausea.

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to the Farlex Medical Dictionary the cause or causes that promotes RA in a person is unknown. "...some researchers have suggested that an outside event occurs that triggers the disease...in a person with a particular genetic makeup,” according to the dictionary. The disease can begin gradually or quickly. The early symptoms are swelling and stiffness in the joints along with pain.

According to the Kyoto University study, and the Farlex Medical Dictionary, the use of rituximab along with methotrexate has safety issues related to life-threating reactions. The Kyoto study states the drug combination is prescribed when conventional treatment is not effective.

The copyright of the article Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms & Treatment Study in General Medicine is owned by Bernard P. Nelson. Permission to republish Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms & Treatment Study in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Arthritis Joint Pain