Gene Therapy Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms in Two Women

There is now evidence that gene therapy can ease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Researchers reported results of an exciting study in the February issue of Human Gene Therapy. Two women with severe rheumatoid arthritis were scheduled for synovectomy of the MCP joints in their hands. One of the women was 35 years old and said to have very active rheumatoid arthritis, while the other was 60 years old with established rheumatoid arthritis but less active inflammation.

During the surgery, researchers injected an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene into some of the affected joints. The patient with more active disease had a remarkable 85% pain reduction in one joint within a day -- and two other joints that received transduced cells were pain-free after a week and protected from flares. The other patient had a slower response but pain did decrease by 70% between the second and third week.

Kineret is a subcutanceous injection that also targets interleukin-1 -- but delivered systemically, it fails to achieve sustained results like those possible with gene therapy. Researchers are viewing gene therapy as possible in the future and the results may be better than that of expensive non-genetic drugs that have to be readministered.

Related Resources:

• Fast Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Test Your Knowledge - Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis - Explained With Pictures
• 10 Things You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis

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