Nerve stimulator implant could offer hope to people with rheumatoid arthritis

The benefits that a new electronic implant might provide for people with rheumatoid arthritis have been demonstrated by scientists from the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam.
Sky News has featured the device ahead of the future publication of results from a small study of 20 people.
The device sends bursts of electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the major organs, for three minutes a day. This reduces the activity of the spleen so it produces fewer chemicals and immune cells that cause harmful inflammation in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Over half of the people involved in the study showed significant improvement thanks to the device. Some became pain-free, even if they had proven resistant to all other forms of therapy. It is thought that people with other chronic conditions such as asthma, obesity and diabetes could benefit too.
The device could be in use within 10 years but first more needs to be done to understand how the technology works and any long-term effects it may have.
“Even in patients who have failed everything, including the most modern pharmaceuticals, we have seen a clear trend of improvement,” highlights Prof Paul-Peter Tak who is involved in the project. “We may be able to achieve remission in 20% to 30% of patients, which would be a huge step forward in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.”

Image credit: pol sifter

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