A drug called Rituxan is offering hope to sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis. The drug, used in cancer treatment, is the latest weapon in medicine’s fight against the debilitating autoimmune disorder.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation and typical symptoms such as stiffness, chronic joint pain and fatigue. Depending on the severity of their condition, sufferers may also experience limited mobility and physical movement.
Many drugs used to treat RA are immunosuppressants that work to stop the immune system turning on the body and so relieve inflammation and joint pain. Rituxan is a biological drug actually more commonly used to treat cancer but found to be effective in relieving the symptoms of RA.
It focuses on depleting certain B cells in the immune system that misfire when an individual has RA and cause inflammation. Used in conjunction with another prescription drug, methotrexate, Rituxan is prescribed when an RA sufferer has failed to respond to other drugs.
Along with osteoarthritis, RA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. However, unlike osteoarthritis where the joints degenerate because of age or injury, RA is an inflammatory condition, which can go on to affect a person’s heart, lungs, nervous system and even their sight. Doctors have not yet pinpointed what causes the condition to develop but believe genetics play a part, probably triggered by environmental factors.
While there is no current cure for any form of arthritis, some medications have been shown to provide long-term symptom relief and even put RA into remission. Corticosteroids are one form of RA symptom relief but as they come with several dangerous side effects such as diabetes, high blood pressure and glaucoma, they are used less often. Disease-modifying drugs are one line of defence, suppressing the immune system and slowing the condition’s progress.
Drugs such as Rituxan are biologic agents, given to patients either via an injection or a transfusion, and considered the most potent treatment to date for reducing joint inflammation and stopping the joints becoming more damaged.
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