Current Arthritis News and Research » Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis Primer

awesome — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:46:17 +0000

Arthritis is the name for a group of conditions that exhibit damage to joints such as knees, hips and fingers. According to the Arthritis Foundation there are over 100 different conditions covered by the term “arthritis”, the most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Depending of the form of arthritis the initial symptoms of are pain and stiffness which can occur after resting (morning) or at the end of the day. Additional symptoms can include rash, fever, swelling, muscle pain, eye pain and mouth ulcers.

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease and arthrosis, is a condition caused by the protective cartilage that protects the ends of bones gradually breaks down. Research indicates that up to 60% of osteoarthritis cases are hereditary. It can also result from injury, obesity (additional weight on joints), inflammatory diseases, diabetes and hormonal disorders. The weight bearing joints – hips, knees and back – are most commonly affected. It is not uncommon for the joints of the feet and hands to also be affected. OA affects nearly 21 million people in the United States, accounting for 25% of visits to primary care physicians. It is estimated that 80% of the population will have some evidence of OA by age 65.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the synovium, or lining, of the joints. This means that the body’s immune system incorrectly identifies the synovium as a foreign material and attacks it. This results in swelling and inflammation of the joint which, in turn, causes tissue and cartilage damage around the joint.

Unfortunately, people of all ages can develop rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers have discovered many potential causes, including emotional or physical stress, bacterial infections, poor nutrition or genetics.

There are several tests that are used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. A blood test is used to check for the presence and level of inflammation in the body. Radiographic imaging (X-rays), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and bone scans will provide visual indications of the severity and progression of arthritis in the joints.

Following a positive diagnosis for RA, there are a number of treatment options available to slow the progression of the disease, improve the pain and maintain mobility. These treatments include several classes of drug therapies, whirlpool treatments, physical therapy and exercises to increase mobility and prevent complications.

There are also many natural treatments that can be utilized. Certain foods contain anti-inflammatory properties, such as pineapple and tart red cherries. Other foods contribute to repairing and rebuilding bone and cartilage, such as eggs, asparagus, onions and garlic. Many other foods are believed to have beneficial effects on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. These include fish, brown rice, non-acidic fresh fruits, oatmeal, and leafy green vegetables.

Research indicates that food allergies may be linked to rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis were found to have higher antibody levels in their intestinal fluid to proteins from hen’s eggs, pork, cow’s milk, codfish and cereal than that of people without RA.

In addition, many people with back and neck pain report that they have experienced pain relief when they eliminated foods that they were allergic to.

Exercise is highly recommended for improving the symptoms of RA. Strengthening the muscles, which can contribute to a reduction of stress on the joints, leads to improved strength of the bones and improvement in the flexibility and health of the cartilage. Exercises, such as swimming or walking, are excellent ways to slow the progression of the disease.

Obesity is another common contributor to arthritis. Weight loss is one of the best ways to improve the symptoms of arthritis.

Arthritis is a serious condition. If you think that you may have arthritis, you should confer with your doctor for a diagnosis.

Originally posted 2009-07-09 17:30:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Rheumatoid Arthritis: Anti-TNF vs. DMARDS

awesome — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:46:15 +0000

Several studies have been conducted into to effectiveness of the newest class of drugs, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blockers, in treating rheumatoid arthritis. But there have been no published studies comparing TNF-alpha blockers with the older class of drugs, known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS), such as Remicade (infliximab), Enbrel (etanercept), and Humira (adalimumab).

Recently a team of Spanish researchers, led by Dr Alberto Alonso-Ruiz has reviewed the findings of 13 clinical trials involving over 7,000 participants to compare anti-TNF to DMARDS. The team analyzed the data to determine the benefits and side effects of different doses of the drugs.

The team determined that all of the trials showed that, with the proper dose, anti-TNF were better for treating rheumatoid arthritis than drugs like methotrexate.

The research also pointed out, however, that those patients using anti-TNF drugs were more likely to complain of adverse side effects. In addition, patients that were using etanercept experienced the lowest withdrawal rates due to adverse events.

“Performing comparisons of new drugs is vital for measuring safety/efficacy relationships and monitoring adverse side-effects” said Dr. Alonzo-Ruiz.

Their research was published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Originally posted 2008-05-02 15:36:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Australia Arthritis Awareness Week

awesome — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:00:36 +0000

Arthritis Awareness Week is March 29th to April 4th, an initiative of Arthritis Australia, and is a time of promotional and educational activities, held around the country, to raise awareness about arthritis, its effects, and the various treatment and management options available.

Arthritis Australia hopes that these activities will make all Australians aware that arthritis is not a natural part of ageing but a disease that affects many people of working age and also children.

Arthritis includes more than 100 different diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), that affect the musculoskeletal system.

Pain, stiffness, inflammation, and damage to the cartilage, bones and other structures within the joints are all common manifestations of arthritis. Although it cannot be cured, the symptoms and impacts of arthritis can be reduced through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment and management.

An estimated three million Australians – 15 per cent of the population – have some form of arthritis, the most common types being osteoarthritis (affecting more than 1.5 million Australians) and rheumatoid arthritis (affecting around 491,000 Australians).

Although the number of people who have arthritis increases with age, about one in every four Australians with arthritis are less than 50 years of age and there are an estimated 4600 Australians with arthritis who are less than 16 years.

In 2003, around 34 per cent of people with a disability reported that arthritis or another musculoskeletal condition was their main disabling condition.

In 2004-05, arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions accounted for the fourth highest amount of direct health expenditure at a total of $4 billion. Close to one-third of this amount was spent on osteoarthritis, with hospital inpatient costs accounting for a large proportion.

In cases of severe osteoarthritis, people may have their symptoms relieved and joint function improved through joint replacement. More than 17,000 total hip replacements and almost 25,000 total knee replacements for arthritis were performed in Australian hospitals in 2006-07, most of these for osteoarthritis.

Originally posted 2009-03-25 06:00:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Living Near Traffic May Increase Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

awesome — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:00:35 +0000

Traffic

A new study suggests that people who are exposed to high levels of pollution from traffic have an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers performed an analysis of records from 90,000 women in the Nurses Health Study and utilized unique software to measure the distance between each of the woman’s homes and the nearest major roadways. The results of the study showed that women who lived within 165 feet of interstates or primary, multi-lane roads had a greater than 30 percent increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to those who lived more that 650 feet from a major roadway. Women who lived within 165 feet of the largest roadways had a 63 percent higher risk.

“Even after accounting for the effects of age, race, sex, socioeconomic status and cigarette smoking, the increased risk for women located near major roads remained substantially higher,” Jaime Hart, a research fellow in the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said in a hospital news release.

According to the researchers, genetic factors are believed to account for less than 50 percent of RA risk, and that environmental factors such as cigarette smoke may increase the risk of developing RA.

“This, coupled with prior research that suggests air pollution from traffic can cause systemic inflammation, prompted us to study whether there was a direct relationship between air pollution and the risk of RA,” Hart said.

Additional research is necessary to determine the exact effect that specific, measured levels of pollution have on the risk of developing the condition.

The study was published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Originally posted 2009-04-22 15:26:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Chinese Herbal Remedy May Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis

awesome — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:41:16 +0000

Although recent advancements in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapies have led to a increased number of available treatments, quite a few of those therapies have side effects that result in some users discontinuing treatment or seeking complementary and alternative medicines.

A recently published study shows that the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), also known as “lei gong teng” or “thunder god vine,” improved joint tenderness and pain in a small sampling of people treated with the medicinal plant.

The report says that people who took an extract of the herb’s roots for 6 months experienced significant improvement in RA symptoms compared to those who took the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine.

Thunder God Vine

Scientists say that thunder god vine has been used for centuries in China to treat an assortment of inflammatory diseases, and a few small clinical trials have suggested that the thunder god vine may benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine,

To perform the analysis, 121 people with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to take 60 milligrams of TwHF 3 times a day or 1 gram of sulfasalazine twice a day for 24 weeks.

Dr. Christine Laine, an internist who edited the study, said

“It is too early to say whether or not the study defines a specific role for the therapy. The finding brings forward convincing evidence that thunder god vine has an effect similar to that of sulfasalazine.”

However, the thunder god vine may also cause unwanted side effects, and has the potential to significantly reduce male sperm.

Sixty-two patients dropped out before prior to completing the study. But after 24 weeks of treatment, researchers found 67% of the people taking TwHF experienced at least 20% improvement on a standard measure of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms than the other group.

Researcher Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, MD, MHS, of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues say the study was not long enough to demonstrate if thunder god vine also helped to hinder the progression of joint destruction from RA. But if additional studies confirm these results in larger numbers of people, thunder god vine may provide an affordable natural treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis.

Originally posted 2009-08-18 20:34:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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