ArthritisDigest2013
Genetic study of lupus could lead to personalised therapy options
Research into the genetic background of lupus will open the door for personalised treatments for the disease in the future, experts claim in Arthritis and Rheumatology.
DNA sequencing was used by experts in Australia to identify a gene variant responsible for causing lupus in girl now aged 10 years old. A mutation in the girl’s TREX1 gene was identified, which caused her cells to produce a molecule called interferon-alpha, which contributed to the development of her lupus. Continue reading
Knee surgery does not help people with mild osteoarthritis, says new study
One of the most common orthopaedic surgical procedures – arthroscopic knee surgery – has no apparent benefit when to comes to age-related tears of the meniscus, says research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Two previous studies found that for people with severe knee arthritis, arthroscopic knee surgery is not effective for long-term symptom relief. Continue reading
Sjögren’s syndrome: common treatment may not be effective
Hydroxychloroquine, often prescribed to people with Sjögren’s syndrome, may not improve symptoms after all, suggests a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Sjögren’s syndrome is characterised by mouth and eye dryness, pain and fatigue. Despite the wide use of hydroxychloroquine in clinical practice, evidence regarding its efficacy is limited. Continue reading
Omega 3 fatty acids may slow progression of arthritis
Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to be better at keeping joints healthy than omega 6 fatty acids in a study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The studies on mice suggest that unhealthy dietary fats – not just obesity – may contribute to worsening osteoarthritis.
“Our results suggest that dietary factors play a more significant role than mechanical factors in the link between obesity and osteoarthritis,” says Dr Farshid Guilak, the study’s senior author. Continue reading
Acute lower back pain? Don’t blame the weatherman…
Sudden, acute episodes of low back pain are not linked to weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind direction and precipitation, says research published in Arthritis Care & Research.
Many people with musculoskeletal pain report that their symptoms are influenced by the weather but there are few robust studies about the association. Some previous work has shown that cold or humid weather and changes in the weather increase symptoms in people with chronic pain conditions but other research suggests the contrary. Continue reading
