Heart attack may risk up to six fold in rheumatoid arthritis

June 21st, 2010

According to the results of a new study presented at the Annual Congress of the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR), if you have rheumatoid arthritis, your risk of experiencing a heart attack is increased by up to six fold. The risk is highest among women younger than 50 years old.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects about 1.3 million Americans, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Although it is often recognized as an inflammatory condition that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints, it can also impact other parts of the body.

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, for example, develop anemia, neck pain, dry eyes, dry mouth, and inflammation of the blood vessels, the lining of the lungs, or the sac that encloses the heart. Read the rest of this entry »

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Genetic defect may lead to autoimmune diseases

June 18th, 2010

A recently research, that led by Shiv Pillai of Massachusetts General Hospital in Charlestown and Harvard Medical School, reports that rare variations in a single gene can lead to a wide variety of autoimmune disorders, including lupus, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. The gene encodes an enzyme protein called sialic acid acetylesterase or SIAE. This enzyme regulates the activity of the immune system’s antibody-producing B cells. About 2 – 3% of people with autoimmune disorders have defects in the enzyme that allow B cells to run amok and make antibodies that attack the body.

Previously, Pillai’s team showed that mice lacking SIAE develop a lupus-like disease in which high levels of antibodies attack the body’s own proteins. The researchers decided to examine the enzyme in people who, like the mice, make high levels of autoimmune antibodies. “One hundred percent, I was confident that we would find nothing,” Pillai says. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rheumatoid arthritis might be triggered by stomach bacteria

June 17th, 2010

In early experiments with mice, scientists have found a bacteria living in the gut may trigger an immune response that can result in rheumatoid arthritis. “It may eventually be possible to ameliorate or protect from human autoimmune diseases, arthritis and others, by treating with probiotics, antibiotics or other inhibitors of bacterial products,” Mathis said. Diane Mathis is a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School.

For the study, Mathis and colleagues raised mice genetically prone to developing arthritis in a germ-free environment. These mice had fewer arthritis-causing antibodies than mice raised in a normal environment. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee at a glance

June 17th, 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease. It can happen to anybody with any ages and any tribes. Commonly occurs in symmetrical pattern and may affect both of knees. Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe type of inflammatory arthritis that affects 1.3 million people in American and 75% among them are women.

The disease can cause severe joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and deformity. It may also impact to other organs and tissues such as the skin, heart, and lungs. It can also cause fatigue, flu-like symptoms, fever, and weight loss. For people with rheumatoid arthritis it would be painful to tying shoelaces, getting dressed or walking to the next room. Read the rest of this entry »

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3 Types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

June 15th, 2010

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile arthritis, commonly affected someone with age between 6 months to 16 years. The early signs of the disease are swelling, joint pain and reddened or warm joints.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is not a single disease, but a group of diseases. Many rheumatologists find that the greater the number of joints affected, the more severe the disease and the less likely that the symptoms will eventually go into total remission.

The three major types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are: Read the rest of this entry »

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5 Ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis

June 15th, 2010

Drugs

Medications on rheumatoid arthritis treatment can reduce the symptoms and prevent worsen joint damage, but not curing them. Until now, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Other treatment such as diet and physical therapy provide to teach you how to protect your joints and managing the pain caused by inflammation. If your joints are severely damaged by rheumatoid arthritis, then surgery may be the best choice.

Below are several types of rheumatoid arthritis drug:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) medications do not slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis but it focused on pain and inflammation reducing. People with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis often require additional medications to prevent severe joint damage. NSAIDs can raise blood pressure and may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, because of that, all prescription of the drug must do with carefully. Other side effects also can cause stomach irritation, ulcers, and bleeding. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms – Early and major symptoms

June 13th, 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation caused by autoimmune disorder, a condition when the immune system for unknown reason attacks healthy tissue. Each person with Rheumatoid arthritis is affected differently. Some people have long periods of remission. Their rheumatoid arthritis is inactive, and they have few or no symptoms during this time. Other people might have near-constant rheumatoid arthritis symptoms for months at a stretch.

Although rheumatoid arthritis can involve different parts the body, joints are always affected. When the disease acts up, joints become inflamed. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection or other threats, but in rheumatoid arthritis inflammation occurs inappropriately and for unknown reasons. Bellow is common symptoms on rheumatoid arthritis attack: Read the rest of this entry »

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