NEW YORK (Reuters) -- At a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology held last weekend in Orlando, Florida, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) researchers reported their latest findings on the disease and potential new therapies. And in a related story, a new drug for treating the symptoms of RA was approved for use this week by the Food and Drug Administration.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It can also lead to inflammation in other body organs. The disease affects an estimated 2 million Americans and commonly strikes between the ages of 20 and 45.
-- Molecule May Be Key
New insight into the process by which rheumatoid arthritis causes damage in the body is giving researchers clues about how to make drug therapy more effective.
Researchers from the pharmaceutical company, G.D. Searle Co., presented a look at the structure of the HDL-DR4 molecule. People who have this molecule on their cells are more likely to develop RA than those who don't.
According to the researchers, the body's immune system treats the molecule as something foreign that must be attacked. If a drug could be found to intercept the molecule and make it appear more "friendly," the body might be spared the process of tissue destruction that occurs in rheumatoid arthritis.
Getting a clear picture of the structure of the molecule is a first step toward understanding how drugs might be able to interfere with it.
-- New Drug Class Provides Hope For RA Sufferers
A new class of drugs appears to show promise for the millions of Americans who suffer from the chronic pain, stiffness and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis.
The drugs are targeted to neutralize or remove molecules on specific cells that are suspected of being involved in the inflammation and joint destruction that occurs in people with the autoimmune disorder.
Known as biological response modifiers, the new drugs have been shown to provide significant relief of symptoms without serious side effects.
Current drug therapy involves use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for relief of pain and swelling in joints.
-- Physical Therapy Can Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
A new study suggests that physical therapy significantly improves the ability to continue normal activities in patients with RA.
Dr. Mary J. Bell of the Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit in Toronto found that compared to patients who did not receive physical therapy, those who did experienced improved disease self-management, or their ability to function with RA.
"It's important to remember that effective treatment for this disease involves more than just taking medicine," Dr. Bell said. "Patients must have access to an entire healthcare team, including physical therapists, to receive the best possible care."
Physical therapy has been generally accepted as an important part of treatment for RA, but few studies have actually measured the effect of the therapy or the significance of it in patients' lives. Dr. Bell said her study shows that physical therapy reduces morning stiffness and increases patients' understanding of their own disease.
-- Colitis Drug Used To Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
A drug that has been used for more than 20 years to treat colitis has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use in the treatment of RA.
The drug Azulfidine is an alternative for patients who have not responded to, or who are intolerant of traditional pain relievers or other NSAIDs, which are common treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.
In clinical studies, Azulfidine has been shown to relieve symptoms in as little as four weeks in some patients when used in combination with pain relievers or other NSAIDs.
Azulfidine is available in 43 countries for the treatment of RA.
