3 minute read
Rheumatoid arthritis support guide
Rheumatoid Arthritis Guide
Rheumatoid arthritis is a mysterious disease. It can strike at any age, typically beginning in young, and middle-aged adults causing painful swelling and can lead to joint deformity and bone erosion, inflamed joints, stiffness, and fatigue. Genetics, age, lifestyle, the environment, smoking and obesity could contribute to its development. Recent studies in microbe genomics indicate an over influx of gut bacterium known as Prevotella copri could also be one of the underlying causes.
Advertisement
The symptoms include:
• Swollen joints • Accumulation of fluid in the ankles • Morning stiffness • Joint pain • Fatigue • Joint redness • Increased eye sensitivity and dryness • Mouth dryness • Nodules on the skin • Inflammation of the lungs Rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to inflammation outside of the joints. Prolonged exposure to these symptoms could lead to Sjorgen’s syndrome characterised by inflammation of glands of the eyes and mouth, pericarditis and pleuritis, anaemia due to splenomegaly, vasculitis which is inflammation of blood vessels and osteoporosis
Tests used by your GP and Rheumatoid specialist to diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis include:
Blood test: Blood test to test for rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test to determine its presence and level of inflammatory mediators. X-ray: To identify the extent of damage to the joints. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Helps to find out the severity of the disease condition.
Arthrocentesis: A procedure during which a sterile needle is used to withdraw joint fluid to determine the cause of symptoms.
TREATMENT
Medications for rheumatoid arthritis currently available include:
• Symptomatic treatments temporarily reduce joint inflammation and pain, such as painkillers (analgesics), corticosteroids and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Unfortunately these treatments do not slow the progression of the underlying disease.
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) do slow the progression of disease, as well as relieving symptoms. DMARDs work by decreasing the abnormal function of the immune system that drives rheumatoid arthritis.
Other management treatments include
• Heat and cold therapy • Relaxation techniques • Aids and equipment (Tens Machine) • Regular exercise • A healthy diet to optimise your weight and reduce inflammation • Looking after your mental health by managing stress and seeking support from a psychologist or counsellor • Physiotherapy and occupational therapy are very helpful in people with rheumatoid arthritis for maintaining strength and physical activity and performing activities of daily living
NEW RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATMENTS ON THE HORIZON
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DEVICE
A new nerve treatment for rheumatoid arthritis invented by Melbourne University researchers at the Bionics Institute, uses electricity to reboot the body’s built-in healing system. The battery-powered device is inserted into the patient’s abdomen using keyhole surgery to stimulate the vagus nerve which controls the body’s anti-inflammatory reflex. A trial in knee patients found 8 in 10 reported less pain, had more flexibility and some participants no longer needed to take medication or have knee surgery. The device is due to be released in the next 2 years.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS VACCINES
A vaccine against rheumatoid arthritis known as drug DEN-181 has been developed by the University of Queensland, Professor Ranjeny Thomas. The vaccine reeducates the immune system and stops it from attacking healthy joint tissue. Drug DEN-181 has been used in early-stage clinical trials at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
On the other side of the globe a team at the University of Toledo, led by Dr Rita Chakravarti, is trialling another vaccine against rheumatoid arthritis, using a 14-3-3 zeta protein that protects against auto-immune disease, to develop a protein-based vaccine using purified 14-3-3 zeta protein grown in a bacterial cell.
Initial trials have found it caused rheumatoid arthritis to completely disappear in animals. The vaccine promoted a strong, immediate and long-lasting response from the body’s innate immune system, providing protection against the disease and improved bone density.
Researchers have filed for a patent on their discovery and are seeking pharmaceutical industry partners, to support safety and toxicity studies in hopes of establishing a preclinical trial. This could be revolutionary!!
