Came across this tonight and thought I would pass it on as well...Hope all have a good and comfortable night...The Future
If
the next two years are as productive as the last two years, the future
for those of us with RA is looking pretty bright. There are many studies
currently underway, some looking at the genetic factors, others to
develop new and better drugs, still others are looking into non-drug
treatments.
Enbrel
and Remicade are the first drugs in a new class called biologic
response modifiers. These drugs have been developed to target and act
against specific components of the immune system. Both Enbrel and
Remicade target the TNF (tumor necrosis factor). New drugs targeting
that same factor are in development now as are other biologic response
modifiers that target other immune system components. Interleukin-12
(IL-12) is one of those components. It is a cytokine that is involved in
autoimmune diseases, they are working on developing a DMARD that can
decrease IL-12 production, thus slowing the disease process. Others are
working to target the interleukin (IL)-1alpha and IL- 1beta. The T cells
are also involved in the inflammatory processes. A vaccine that targets
these cells is being studied. Other
drugs currently being studied include new NSAIDs with less GI side
effects than even Celebrex or Vioxx.
Other
drug studies are researching new combinations of currently available
medications to achieve better results.
An
interesting non-drug therapy currently being investigated at the
University of Wisconsin involves raising the body temperature to 48.1 C
(107 F) for one hour. This is thought to induce TNF receptors and
interrupt the inflammatory immune response.
A
huge study taking place now is the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis
Consortium. This group of 12 research centers around the United States
is collecting medical information and genetic material from 1,000
families in which two or more siblings have rheumatoid arthritis. It
will serve as a national resource for genetic studies of this disease.
Scientists
are studying the confusing connection among the hormonal, nervous, and
immune systems in rheumatoid arthritis. They are exploring whether and
how the normal changes in the levels of steroid hormones (such as
estrogen and testosterone) relate to improvement, or flares of the
disease. Since RA strikes women three times as often as men, they are
looking into female and male hormones and other elements that differ
between women and men.
They
are examining why rheumatoid arthritis often improves during pregnancy.
The theory is that there are differences in certain special proteins
between a mother and her unborn child. These proteins help the immune
system distinguish between the body?s own cells and foreign cells.
Such differences, the scientists speculate, may change the activity of
the mother?s immune system during pregnancy.
With all this research and more going on, could a cure be within our grasp? ?Cure in our lifetime? I like the word, control, rather than cure. Take Enbrel when it works - it's not a cure but it clearly controls the disease.? Says Dr. Susan Hoch. ?Cure implies it is gone forever. I think control is a more realistic goal.?
Raising my pill
bottle in a toast?here?s to a future filled with control for all of
us.
Like to remind you that there are some of us who have found our cure, be it extreme as stem cell transplanation or as simply as AP or combinations of treatments.
LuAnn
20 months RA & Medicine FREE :)
I have been watching the gyvan institute (not sure on spelling) i believe they are in australia.
They let out a memo almost 2 years ago about how they have an RA "CURE".
They completely cured every single rat they tested on and are to start late this year in testing healthy people and then they are to test us sick with it.
I pray it works, even if you need the shot once every 6months to 3 years etc.
Possible cures are on the brink. We just have to wait. The thought helps keep me moving forward.