Current Arthritis News and Research » Rheumatoid Arthritis

Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:46:49 +0000

I posted late last year about research that indicated women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experienced improvement in their RA symptoms during pregnancy. This research found that the relief was related to the amount of fetal DNA in their blood. The higher the level of fetal DNA, the greater the level of relief.

Now there is a Swedish study that has found that women that breast-feed for more than a year after the birth of their children have a reduced risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis.

The research, conducted by a team from Malmö University Hospital, analyzed case history for 136 women with RA and 544 without. Women who breastfed for 13 or more months had a 54% reduced risk of developing RA and those that breastfed for 1 to 12 months had a 26% reduction in risk compared to women that never breastfed.

In addition, women who gave birth to more children tended to have a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 13% for each child. However, breast-feeding appeared to be a more significant factor in the development of RA.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of women who breast-feed for more than six months according to the researchers. They concluded that it is difficult to say whether there’s a link between higher rates of breast-feeding and a corresponding decline in the number of women with rheumatoid arthritis. But the result of this study adds to the list of benefits of breast-feeding for both infant and mother.

The results of this study were published May 13th in the online journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Originally posted 2008-05-16 22:14:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Protect Heart

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:46:48 +0000

A recent study has determined that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients that have prolonged use of drugs such as methotrexate, glucocorticoids and TNF-alpha blockers to control the disease may be protecting their hearts as well.

Researchers from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain studied data from over 4300 RA patients from 15 countries.

One finding was that traditional risk factors – high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol – were significant factors is increase risk for cardiovascular disease. However, they found that physical inactivity and obesity were not cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Another discovery was a link between rheumatoid arthritis related conditions, such as inflammation of blood vessels, and heart attack. And, as previously found, men have a higher risk for cardiovascular event.

After taking these factors into account the research team concluded that long term use of certain arthritis drugs, specifically methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, glufoforticoids and biologic agents, significantly lowered the risk of death from a cardiovascular event.

According to study lead Dr. Antonio Naranjo: “Methotrexate, other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic agents could reduce the extra risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have, through the control of inflammation.”

Dr. Naranjo also says that this study indicates that RA patients need to control both the traditional cardiovascular risk factors as well as the inflammatory activity of rheumatoid arthritis.

Originally posted 2008-04-02 18:46:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Hydrangea Root May be Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:46:46 +0000

An ancient Chinese herb that has been used for 2,000 years to treat malaria and reduce fevers is now being tested for use in treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The new drug is made from the herb chang shan, from the root of the blue evergreen hydrangea.

The active compound in chang shan, febrifugine, is too toxic for use as a modern drug. U.S. Army scientists created a febrifugine derivative called halofuginone in the 1960’s as a possible malaria drug, but discontinued additional study. Scientists had not been able to determine how the drug worked.

But recently Harvard Medical School researchers Mark S. Sundrud, PhD, Anjana Rao, PhD, and colleagues show that halofuginone inhibits Th17 cells. Th17 cells are a specific kind of immune cell that was not identified until 2006.

Researchers discovered that Th17 cells regulate autoimmune inflammatory responses. Those are the types of immune response that can result in several diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis,.

“Halofuginone may herald a revolution in the treatment of certain types of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,” Rao says in a news release.

Current treatments for autoimmune diseases inhibit many different immune responses, which leaves patients vulnerable to infections and cancers. However, a drug that specifically inhibits one type of immune response would be a major breakthrough. It may be that Halofuginone is such a drug.

“This is really the first description of a small molecule that interferes with autoimmune pathology but is not a general immune suppressant,” Sundrud says in the news release.
An added bonus: Halofuginone could probably be taken orally, rather than by injection.

The current findings by Drs. Sundrud and Rao are based only on mouse studies. They must be refined and confirmed in humans before any actual drug is developed.

The findings of this research are published in the June 5 issue of Science.

Originally posted 2009-06-09 15:08:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Link Found Between anti-TNF Medication and Cancer

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:46:45 +0000

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs are the newest class of therapies used for treating inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our last post discussed the benefits of treating RA with a combination of anti-TNF medication and methotrexate. But there is new research that indicates concern for treating certain individuals with anti-TNF drugs.

British researchers report in the July 17 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine about the case of a 69 year old female ex-smoker who was being treated for Crohn’s disease with anti-TNF medications. During this time she developed lung cancer. After stopping the medication, the researchers discovered that the cancer disappeared.

A theory being considered is that the woman, who had been a heavy smoker for 35 years, had an immune system that kept the cancer in check. But the anti-TNF treatments may have weakened her immune system which allowed the cancer to develop.

According to co-author Jack Satsangi, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the woman’s lung cancer “was expected to be fatal within months.” After stopping the anti-TNF treatments “the cancer has completely regressed – and she is health more than two years after.”

“This is most remarkable, and adds to the concerns regarding the use of these agents, and we do not use these drugs in patients with heavy smoking histories,” Satsangi said.

Researchers have seen an association between TNF medications and lung cancer, particularly in ex-smokers. There are also concerns about these drugs and the development of other cancers, such as lymphoma.

“There is an underlying concern about the use of these drugs and the possible increase of certain kinds of cancer,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. “This report raises the awareness that doctors and patients have to have in using these drugs. We certainly need to be more vigilant about lung cancer in patients who get these treatments.”

Originally posted 2008-07-17 23:01:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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FDA Investigates Link Between TNF Blockers and Cancer

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:46:42 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has begun an investigation into links between anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drugs, used to treat arthritis, and an increased risk of cancer in children. TNF blockers, sold under the names Enbrel, Remicade and Humira, are commonly used for the treatment of arthritis. The review is being conducted by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The FDA has received 30 reports of cancer in children under the age of 18 who had been treated for JIA with anti-TNF drugs along with other medications, such as methotrexate, or similar immunosuppressant drugs.

Nearly 50% of the reports state the patients developed Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The other reports indicate development of melanoma, leukemia and solid organ cancers.

Besides rheumatoid arthritis, TNF blockers are used to treat psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, as well as other diseases. TNF blockers are know to result in inflammation and weakening of the immune system.

The manufacturers of these drugs have been directed by the FDA to provide information about all TNF blocker recipients who have developed cancer, and in some cases to track cancer reports for 10 years. The FDA has also requested the assistance of medical professionals and patients in reporting any side effects from TNF blockers through the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.

Originally posted 2008-06-06 22:25:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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