First of all, I want to thank everyone that responded to my previous post entitled: "so confused." I'm still worried, and have many more questions for you all, but I would like to share some good information with you as of now. There seems to be a new medicine that has already been through phase III trials in some countries. I believe it's due to come out in America some time in the early part of 2007. The drug's name is Actemra. The following copy and paste will display how effective this drug is:
"Actemra patients achieving ACR20, 50 and 70 were 89%, 70% and 47% respectively compared to 35%, 14% and 6% respectively in the DMARDs group. Results of this magnitude have not been previously achieved in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have early aggressive disease." http://www.roche.com/inv-update-2005-11-17
Other post on the internet states that Actemra far surpasses Methotrexate and all other DMARDS. Two other drugs that are soon to be out are Golimumab and Huzaf. Golimumab is the next generation of biologic treatments, because its the first fully-human anti-tnf therapy. Because its composed of all human components, and not some rodent, it promises to have less side effects. One-quarter of patients receiving golimumab and MTX achieved remission as evaluated by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) http://www.centocor.com/news/news_111605.jsp.
Well, I hope this information helps for the people who didnt know about these soon to be released medicines. I will save my questions for a later post. Thanks again...
Thomas
Isnt Humira human and Remicade mouse? Enbrel is a synthetic copy of human.Thanks for the info, i have also been watching one at the Garven Institute, I pray this one works cuz it is a one shot "cure".
So far, it has only been tested on mice, but mice have the cosest bodies for research to a human and many of their bodies are already used in Biologic drugs etc. which is how close to use they are.
The mice passed with flying colors with their stage one testing "no side effects" and almost all were cured with first shot, some needed follow ups way down the road, but most were cured.
So, I have been watching this one. They base thier drug on findings on where inflammation started and other research.
http://www.nature.com/ni/journal/v7/n3/index.html
I would love for all of these things to work, in case one doesn't on people, another great drug can.
Hi Thomas. I noticed your first post but didn't have any advice for you as I am also new at this. I just think your history sounds like mine. I started out several months ago with wrist and thumb pain bilaterally. Gradually, some other joints decided to get in on the action. Pain has not been too bad, however. Just worrisome.
I recently had my 1st RD appt. Like you, I had a mostly negative physical exam (she said I had only one joint with synovitis). Blood work so far is negative. I am waiting for that dreaded antiCCP to come back (should be next week).
My question for you: Have you had any other symptoms? Do you have morning stiffness, visible swelling, etc? I really have not, but I just really have a feeling RA is creeping up on me. I appreciate any insight you might have.
Thanks,
Stacy
Hello Stacie,
No, as of right now, I don't have any swelling. My first symptom was a somewhat red joint in my right hand. The joint was somewhat painful; however, I didn’t have any limited range of motion in it. My MD decided to run a complete-blood-count, a sedimentation rate, and rheumatoid factor, and a lupus test (ANA). Everything came back fine except the RF factor being a 23 (cutoff being 20). My MD said it was nothing to worry about because the elevation of the RF being so minimum. However, I didn’t want to take any chances. I went to the Rheumatoloigst and he said that he couldn't diagnose me as RA because there were no signs of inflammatory arthritis; however, the anti-ccp came back a 33 (cutoff being 5).
I have had other joints become involved since then: joint pains, but no swelling. My feet have been given me the most trouble, but the pain comes and goes and there is no symmetrical pattern to it. The Rheumatologist has since then ran all the blood work over again...the RF factor has came back negative and the anti-ccp has been cut in half being an 18. I asked him what this could mean. The rheumatologist said this could be one of three things: first, that there was an environmental antigen that caused these symptoms, but is now disappearing. Second, I have RA, but this isn’t going to a severe case. Third, I have RA, but it may be several years before the main clinical onset happens
I go back on June 12 to get x-rays of my hands and feet, and once again, I will have all the blood work reworked to see what the anti-ccp is doing. Hopefully, this will give him an idea of what this disease process will do.
My symptoms first began in the later part of December of 2005. My progression has been very slow, which is good, because most rheumatologist say the more progressive cases of RA happen quickly, while the less severe cases happen as a gradual process. I hope all of this information helps.
Thomas
I think I read somewhere that Humira is also human anti TNF. Humira stands for Human in RA or something similar?? Does anyone know?Paleo,
Thanks to you and the others on the new medicines.
Shanbr,
Please keep us posted with more info on this one-shot medicine. Would love to have a try at that.
Word of caution on new medicines is that they take so long to go through the testing and approval process. So, if you have RA, be assertive now.
Paleo and Stacie,
Glad to hear your symptoms are mild. You both should be congratulated on getting tests done now. Mine started off with a bang and continues to worsen. That is disheartening.
But everything I've read agrees with what you said about it starting out slow. If the RA is from an infectious source, they can try antibiotics to treat it. Then, it's gone. So ask your doc about that.
It's a good thing that they are doing all this blood work and xrays from the beginning. It shows that your doctors are taking it seriously. I hope it goes away for both of you.
Oh yah, right now i'm on 20mg methotrexate a wk, 4 ultram a day, 2 200mg celebrex a day, 7.5mg prednisone a day.
and in june i get "more" meds. Lucky me, my stomach can't take all this, i get horrible gastritis from these meds yet if i stop taking just one pill of pain killer or celebrex etc. a day, I have full body flair the next morning.
The thought of "cures" and "better meds" keeps me going. I do have one of the worst cases of RA that exists, so at age 33, I am keeping my hopes up and thanking god that my family runs our business in our home office.
hey guys, first time poster, long time reader....Hey Palio'
I to am waiting for RA to develope I have tested Very HIGH Pos for both RF and Anti-CCP. I'm hoping the blood work was flawed or that I am just an odd duck. I'm realizing now that I am probiably subseptable to many differant autoimmune diseases since I have three differant ones at the moment.
Please let me know what Your Doc has to say and I'll keep You posted as well.
Kat
[QUOTE=shanbr]Oh yah, right now i'm on 20mg methotrexate a wk, 4 ultram a day, 2 200mg celebrex a day, 7.5mg prednisone a day.
. I do have one of the worst cases of RA that exists, so at age 33, I am keeping my hopes up
[/QUOTE]
Shanbr, I am just curious where you got the info that you have one of the worst cases. You are not on very strong meds and I am wondering why? I ask this because I have been told my ra is severe and aggressive and I am curious what your doctors base your condition on. Thank you. Roxanne
I am still rather new to this RA thing...but I interviewed a few RD's and everyone seemed to have the same treatment pattern. Hit the disease hard at the onset.... MTX, Pred & Biologic. I was weaned off Pred after 3 months and I am still taking MTX and Enbril.
Shouldn't everyone be on a biologic if insurance covers it??
I think so...at least that is what the latest research would indicate. Or at least you should be on the drug that is most effectively controlling the disease and if you arent getting that from MTX then yeah, a biologic would be the next step.