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RA

Circadian Cortisol in Response to a 72-hour Fast in RA Patients – (05-10-01)

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Circadian Cortisol in Response to a 72-hour Fast in RA Patients

Fasting has long been a tool used in functional medicine and this study does show one aspect of why this is beneficial. An increase in cortisol, the body’s own natural anti-inflammatory hormone, is increase in patients while fasting. A few things to consider here before you go on a 72 hour fast. First, one of the main goals of a fast is to halt the insulting of the body with foods that the patient may be allergic to while giving the liver a chance to eliminate backlogged toxins. Next, I always recommend therapeutic fasting–replenshing the body with substances needed for healthy detoxification (supporting both phase I and II). Finally, cortisol can be a very damaging hormone if the body is exposed to it for extended periods. It is designed to be produced in response to stress to help our bodies get through the stressful period and then be gone. Proper attention to adrenal function is essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced cortisol response.

Springer LINK: Clinical Rheumatology – Abstract Volume 20 Issue 2 (2001) pp 85-87

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Oral Type II Collagen Therapy Shows Promise in Juvenile Arthritis – (09-02-01)

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Oral Type II Collagen Therapy Shows Promise in Juvenile Arthritis

This type of therapy for RA patients was already published many years ago with wonderful benefits and few side effects to the patients in the study. This is believed to work by teaching the GI tract to send a signal to the rest of the body saying that Type II collagen is “okay,” thereby lowering the immune response to the body’s own Type II collagen. This is truly a wonderful approach with virtually no side effects. Unfortunately, without big money behind a study like this it may not go far.

Arthritis Rheum 2001;44:1775-1781 Oral type II collagen (CII) therapy appears to reduce the autoimmune process of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and promote clinical improvement. Autoantibodies to CII, a cartilage-specific protein, have been found in the sera of JRA patients. By mimicking this protein, oral bovine CII therapy may serve as a tolerogen that attenuates the autoimmune process in these patients, Dr. L. K. Myers, from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, and colleagues explain in the August issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism. Dr. Myers’ team assessed the clinical outcomes and T-cell cytokine profiles of nine JRA patients who were treated with oral bovine CII for 3 months. The patients, who were 3 to 15 years of age, included seven with rheumatoid factor-negative JRA with polyarticular disease and two with pauciarticular disease. Two patients had disease exacerbations when treatment was discontinued, so therapy was restarted for an additional 3 months. Eight of the 11 treatment courses were associated with a clinical improvement, the authors state. Six of the eight patients who responded clinically had a decrease in interferon-gamma levels. Of the seven patients who had detectable levels of transforming growth factor beta-3 mRNA, six showed an increase after receiving CII therapy. No side effects were noted with CII therapy in any of the patients.

Tuberculosis Associated with Infliximab, a TNF–Neutralizing Agent – (10-18-01)

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Tuberculosis Associated with Infliximab, a TNF–Neutralizing Agent

It’s always interesting to see articles come out in different journals that all seem to revolve around a common theme. In this case, we see that the new “wonder drug” for Crohn’s and RA may have some severe side effects. I could accept these side effects in some patient if there were no alternative. However, with many autoimmune diseases, there are many options such as elimination diets, fasting and oral tolerance that can help control the disease.

NEJM — Abstracts: Keane et al. 345 (15): 1098

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T cell reactivity to microbial antigens, collagen in RA after new meds – (01-18-01)

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T cell reactivity to microbial antigens, collagen in RA after new meds

Etanercept is the new drug being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. I have always been concerned at the effects of blocking the action of TNF-gamma in the body. A more rational approach would be to use natural methods to block the production of TNF-gamma (anti-inflammatory diets, herbs, maintaining good insulin sensitivity, lowering the level of adipose tissue…). New research is suggesting that this new drug upregulates the immune system further, with the potential for even more autoimmunity–the reason the drug is used in the first place!!

Ann Rheum Dis — Abstracts: Berg et al. 60 (2): 133

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Lifestyle, reproductive, environmental exposures and RA – (10-01-01)

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Lifestyle, reproductive, environmental exposures and RA

This article brings many things out into the open. First and foremost is the hopes that clinicians will begin to view RA, not as a disease locked into our genes, but rather one heavily dependent upon lifestyle factors that are indeed modifiable. And, if the presence of RA is indeed linked that environment, than changing that environment would have an impact. And many times for most patients it does. Lastly, look at some of the environmental factors…drinking well water, exposure to hair dyes…sounds like a hair analysis for heavy metals would be warranted in all RA patients.

Ann Rheum Dis — Abstracts: Olsson et al. 60 (10): 934

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TELOPEPTIDES USED TO DETERMINE EFFECT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – (10-20-04)

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Telopeptides as markers of bone turnover in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

This is an interesting route of attack on a different way to measure disease severity with RA. Using the breakdown products of bone in the urine as a way to check bone status is by no means new. But in this study, these bone turnover markers were used to determine the severity of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, since RA attacks the cartilage of a joint and to a certain extent the underlying bone.

Telopeptides as markers of bone turnover in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis – Internal Medicine Journal, Vol 34, Issue 9-10, pp. 539-544 –

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