Predicting Rheumatoid Arthritis
by Jennifer Bunn, RN
Could a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis predict who will develop the debilitating disorder? A new study points to this possibility. The secret to prediction lies in cytokines, according to researchers.
Researchers studied blood samples from 86 individuals who did not yet have rheumatoid arthritis and compared these samples to 256 matched controls. The researchers were measuring 30 different cytokines and cytokine-related factors. The results? Those people who later went on to develop rheumatoid arthritis had elevated levels of cytokines; furthermore, the patterns of these elevations distinguished them from members of the control group.
What does this mean? The results show that it may be possible to predict with accuracy who will develop rheumatoid arthritis. Being able to identify individuals at risk of developing the disease will allow earlier diagnosis of the condition and may even allow for prevention of this debilitating disease. At present, rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose, and persons with the disease may not be treated until the disease is advanced. Knowing earlier will permit aggressive treatment of the disease, before severe joint damage occurs.
April 14th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Several people today have arthritis symptoms and don’t recognize this. It will take a while to have full blown arthritis. It is something that little by little develops and before you know it, you’ve arthritis and are seeing your medical doctor for medications.