Nerve stimulation significantly reduces symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, says study
A new clinical trial has demonstrated that stimulating the vagus nerve with an implantable bioelectronics device, significantly improved measures of disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
The trial was conducted by the Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and SetPoint Medical and which was published in the Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences, found that this technique was a viable alternative to medication.
For the study, scientists looked at 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, several of whom had not responded to other treatment. The device, no bigger than the size of a coin, was implanted in the vagus never, and activated and deactivated based on a schedule to measure response over 84 days. A number of people showed significant improvements.
“This is the first study to evaluate whether stimulating the inflammatory reflex directly with an implanted electronic device can treat RA in humans,” says Prof Paul-Peter Tak, MD, PhD, FMedSci, the international principal investigator and lead author of the paper at the Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology of the Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam. “We have previously shown that targeting the inflammatory reflex may reduce inflammation in animal models and in vitro models of RA. The direct correlation between vagus nerve stimulation and the suppression of several key cytokines like TNF as well as reduced RA signs and symptoms demonstrates proof of mechanism, which might be relevant for other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases as well.”
“This is a real breakthrough in our ability to help people suffering from inflammatory diseases,” says co-author Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, discoverer of the inflammatory reflex and co-founder of SetPoint Medical. “While we’ve previously studied animal models of inflammation, until now we had no proof that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve can indeed inhibit cytokine production and reduce disease severity in humans. I believe this study will change the way we see modern medicine, helping us understand that our nerves can, with a little help, make the drugs that we need to help our body heal itself.”
While focused on rheumatoid arthritis, the trial’s results may have implications for patients suffering from other inflammatory diseases, including Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and others.
For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.
