Leflunomide. Me

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Combats The Flu

Susan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:58:07 +0000

A group of researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that Abatacept (Orencia), a rheumatoid arthritis medication, reduced death rates and lowered the severity of the disease in mice infected with Influenza A virus. This finding may show a new approach to influenza virus treatment where the protective effect is combined with less aggressive immune response to the virus. While the activity of the immune system in the lungs is not affected allowing to kill the virus, the hyperactivity of the T-cells that make you feel sick or even develop pneumonia is suppressed.

Overreaction of the immune system is typical for healthy, young people. It is considered to be the major cause of death from pandemic outbreaks of flu. The suggestion is thought to be true for the early stages of “swine flu” (H1N1). Abatacept (Orencia) has been approved by FDA for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but not for the treatment of influenza yet.
The efficacy of the drug was tested on mice. It was found that the survival of mice treated Abatacept (Orencia) was 30% higher than among the untreated mice given the lethal dose of the virus influenza A. Recovery time was shorter and lung damage less severe among the mice treated with Abatacept (Orencia). Researchers found that the treatment diminished the tissue damage resulting from the immune overreaction and still allowed the body to combat the virus. The survival rate among the treated mice was considerably higher – 80% against 50% among the untreated mice.
Currently three types of seasonal influenza are known: A, B and C. There is a number of Influenza A subtypes of including the recently discovered strain H1N1 also called “swine flu”. Today vaccination remains the most effective method of preventing the influenza virus infection. The popular antiviral drug, Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) stops the virus multiplication when taken within the first 2 days of influenza symptoms.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Leflunomide and Swimming

Susan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:54:45 +0000

Rheumatoid arthritis limited my abilities to exercise and made me feel like a cripple. I could only take short walks and do some simple aerobics for quite a long period but that was not enough for me to keep fit. More active exercises made my joints swell and hurt afterwards. As a result, I was losing muscle weight and gaining fat. The idea of swimming was a blessing. I studied the subject and found that:

Water exercise is a really gentle way to exercise joints and maintain muscle strength.
Warmth and buoyancy of warm water create a safe, ideal environment for relieving arthritis pain and treating stiffness.
Immersing in warm water raises body temperature, dilates blood vessels and improves blood circulation.
Water allows free movement because it supports joints
Using spa with massage adds beneficial component to the therapy: they improve blood circulation and relax muscles.

I’ve been going to the swimming pools local water fitness classes for 1 month now and I feel stronger and more energetic. I keep taking leflunomide and my joints condition is not worsening. That is good news!

Arthritis: Natural Remedies

Susan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:58 +0000

Arthritis natural remedies is the subject I decided to study not long ago. I’ve been taking leflunomide for quite long now and the medicine did its job pretty well – the disease is not progressing anymore and I’m in control of my joints. That is why until recently it didn’t occur to my mind that arthritis natural remedies could do a better job.

To be honest, since I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis my lifestyle hasn’t changed much, except for less loading of my joints. And I literally had no time of strength to think about other ways. And it was my friend who persuaded me that natural arthritis natural remedies could produce even better effect that traditional treatment. Or, at least it makes sense to combine both. She has her own story of successful natural treatment from a serious disease; I’ll find half an hour and share that story someday. What I realized from her experience is that arthritis natural remedies and treatment in general include not just herbs, but also diet and global lifestyle changes. In other words, treatment with herbs and other natural substances work perfectly but it’s just one side, the other important side is to remove things that worsen or can potentially worsen the disease and your health in general. With healthy lifestyle the effect from herbs will be much stronger. I know that leflunomide suppresses immune system and of course there is nothing good about it so the idea of herbal treatment sounds reasonable.

At the moment I’m studying some diet and exercise recommendations for my case and I’m also considering some herbal remedies with no side effects. I’ll post my findings on arthritis natural remedies a bit later, either added to this post or as a new one. And I will post updates on my progress with natural treatment as well. Hopefully, I will help someone will find the way to arthritis natural remedies and combat the disease.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Susan — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:18:31 +0000

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of joints which in most cases affects the lining of the joint or synovium. Often, the disease continues indefinitely, progresses and results in long-term joint damage accompanied by chronic pain, loss of function or even disability. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the inflammation is caused by the hyperactivity of the immune system which mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues in the manner it is supposed to attack invaders. Besides joints, rheumatoid arthritis can affect other organs in the body. About 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) develops in three stages. The first stage is characterized by swelling around the joint , pain, swelling of the synovium, warmth and redness around it, stiffness of the joint. At this stage x-rays will not show any destructive changes, only the swelling of joint lining.
During the second stage inflamed synovium tissue starts to proliferate: synovium cells start rapid division and growing into joint cavity across articular cartilage, gradually narrowing and destroying it.
In the third stage, the inflamed cells release enzymes that cause erosion of bone and cartilage. Often, the joint becomes deformed and looses alignment. The pain becomes more severe and the ability to move is lost.
As of today, there is no specific cure for rheumatoid arthritis that guarantees recovery. However, certain drugs (including leflunomide), joint protection and self-management techniques, as well as diagnosing the disease at early stages and following the doctor’s recommendations allow to limit joint damage, keep it under control and live a productive and happy life.

Leflunomide History Flashback

Susan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:07:13 +0000

Leflunomide History Flashback:

Arava (leflunomide) was unanimously recommended by FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) arthritis advisory committee to treat active rheumatoid arthritis in august, 1998 and approved on September 11, 1998.

At that time, leflunomide (brand name Arava) became the first new disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) aimed to treat of rheumatoid arthritis in more than ten years’ period.

Leflunomide Tests

Prior to being recommended and approved, leflunomide has been tested against other widely used rheumatoid arthritis medications, such as methotrexate. Over 480 americans with moderate rheumatoid arthritis participated in the tests. As a result, about 41 % of patients taking Arava (leflunomide) achieved improvement in their physical condition against only 19 % of those treated by placebo. Patients taking methotrexate experienced approximately the same effect as those thaking Arava (leflunomide).

X-rays examination of the patients’ joints revealed that Arava (leflunomide) arthritis progressed for times as slowly as with placebo. Methotrexate proved to be more effective is slowing arthritis progression than placebo, but not as effective as Arava (leflunomide).

Another “pro” was that Arava (leflunomide) side effects were reversible and not severe, compared to methotrexate which was associated with the risk kidney failure in some cases. In addition, methotrexate lost effectiveness over time. Such difference was observed because Arava (leflunomide) and methotrexate target different enzymes while suppressing the overactive immune system. However, the basic principle of work remains the same – suppressing an overactive immune system.

Arava (leflunomide) proved to be more safe an effective than other rheumatoid arthritis drugs.