Gold was used extensively until the early 1980's when it was supplanted by methotrexate as the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) of choice. (DMARDS are drugs that actually slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as opposed to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that merely help with symptoms.) More recently, biologic treatments have also entered the arena and are capable of putting RA into remission.
Gold treatment, while often effective, also was associated with a host of problems. The shots took months to take effect and side effects included rashes, mouth sores, kidney damage, inflammation of the lung, and occasionally, damage to the bone marrow causing life-threatening reductions in the number of red and white blood cell counts and platelet counts.
Dr. David Pisetsky, chief of the division of rheumatology at Duke University School of Medicine, says " We rheumatologists have really never understood how gold works.? His hope is that once the mechanism of action is understood, then it might be possible to create new and better gold-like drugs to treat arthritis.
Pisetsky's interest in gold comes from his work with a particular molecule, HMBG1, which causes inflammation, the linchpin to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. He states, ?HMBG1 is a molecule which has two functions; it behaves one way when it's inside the nucleus of a cell, and ?another way when it's released from a cell.?
Inside the nucleus, HMGB1 acts as a messenger and is responsible for converting genetic information from DNA to RNA. But when HMGB1 is released from the cell, for whatever reason, it stimulates the immune system and promotes inflammation?
Pisetsky feels that if HMGB1 were kept within the nucleus, it would help reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis.
HMGB1 prodcution in the body is heterogenous- it is not produced in the same concentration in every tissue of the body. There is an unusually high amount of it present within joints where arthritis occurs.
The experiments went like this... researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and Duke stimulated mouse and human immune system cells to make HMGB1, then treated the cells with gold. They found that the gold blocked release of HMGB1 from the nucleus. Theoretically, that should lessen the amount of HMGB1 available to promote an inflammatory response.
Pisetsky feels that gold works by interfering with the action of interferon beta and nitric oxide. These two substances help control the release of HMGB1.
(The study will appear in the January, 2008 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, but will be available ahead of print on the journal's website. Co-authors of the study include lead investigators Weiwen Jiang, from Duke University, and Cecilia Zetterstrom, from the Karolinska Institute; Heidi Wahamaa, Therese Ostberg, Ann-Charlotte Aveberger, Hanna Schierback and Ufl Anderson from the Karolinska Institute; Helena Erlandersson Harris, senior co-author, from the Medicine and Rheumatology Unit of the Karolinksa University Hospital and Michael Lotze, from the University of Pittsburgh.)
This description about how gold may work is fascinating to an arthritis specialist who started practice in 1981. At that time we had hydroxychloroquine, gold, and d-penicillamine. None of these treatments was ideal and both gold and d-penicillamine were very toxic. Our treatment options have increased greatly and we are now able to get many patients with RA into remission. However, we still have a ways to go. Research into the mechanisms of disease will help us find better therapies in the future. It may be that some of the older therapies like gold- if we can develop drugs that have the good effects? without the bad, may be very useful.
For more information on gold treatment go to http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/gold-treatment.html
Because arthritis is such a debilitating disease for the most part, this is thus why it is so important that there is proper medication available for it. It should be known first thing that there is rheumatoid arthritis medication available, and so it is important to look into this matter, especially if you or a loved one of yours suffers from rheumatoid arthritis; let it be known however that before you find rheumatoid arthritis medication you need to understand the disease of rheumatoid arthritis itself.
What Rheumatoid Arthritis is
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the many types of arthritis however it is differentiated by many different factors in particular. Basically, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, and it is an affliction which is also able to cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as with other organs in the body.
As well, while rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness ? which means that it can last a person for their entire lifetime ? patients may still experience long periods without any symptoms at all. Typically, however, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive illness which definitely has the potential to cause not only joint destruction but functional disability as well.
Proper Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication
In regards to proper rheumatoid arthritis medication, there are actually many different options that you have to choose from. The most common and popular types of rheumatoid arthritis medication would include such things as Prednisone, for instance, which is actually considered as being the most common and well known medication in regards to arthritis.
What is Prednisone?
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug which is typically taken orally but which can be delivered via an injection and it is a drug which can be used for many different conditions. It is considered as being a prodrug, one that is converted into the liver and into prednislone, which is not only the active drug but a steroid as well.
It is considered as being particularly effective in regards to being an immunosuppressant and thus affects virtually all of the immune system; as well, it is able to be used in the cases of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and various kidney diseases as well, including that of nephritic syndrome, and in organ transplantation matters.
Just remember to consult with your doctor first so that the two of you can properly determine which medication would be best for you.
Both Nathan Wei & John Ugoshowa are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nathan Wei has sinced written about articles on various topics from Arthritis Pain, Health and Arthritis Signs. Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a rheumatologist and Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For more info:. Nathan Wei's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
John Ugoshowa has sinced written about articles on various topics from Affiliate Programs, About Branding and Fat Loss. John Ugoshowa. You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your ezinesas long as you have a link back to For more informa. John Ugoshowa's top article generates over 201000 views. to your Favourites.