News and information about the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) and arthritis and rheumatology research. Written for NDB participants and anyone with a rheumatic disease.
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Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Glucosamine debate brewing
"Glucosamine, the popular dietary supplement long promoted as a natural remedy for osteoarthritis, offers no long-term benefit, a small Canadian study suggests. Supporters of the supplement, however, say that the study is far from the last word on the subject. And everyone is awaiting the results of a larger, U.S. government trial. " - from Yahoo! Health
"Glucosamine, the popular dietary supplement long promoted as a natural remedy for osteoarthritis, offers no long-term benefit, a small Canadian study suggests. Supporters of the supplement, however, say that the study is far from the last word on the subject. And everyone is awaiting the results of a larger, U.S. government trial. " - from Yahoo! Health
Monday, November 22, 2004
Breast feeding may reduce RA risk
In case you missed this story during the ongoing Vioxx news....."Breast-feeding offers a host of health benefits for the baby, but a new study says it may help the mother avoid rheumatoid arthritis as well....They found that in women who nursed for four to 11 months, their risk of rheumatoid arthritis was reduced by 10 percent. Women who breast-fed between 12 and 23 months total had a 20 percent reduction in risk. If a woman spent more than 24 months of her life breast-feeding her children, the risk of rheumatoid arthritis dropped dramatically -- by 50 percent.....rheumatoid arthritis has a genetic component to it, so this information could be useful for women with the disease to pass down to their daughters who may still be in their childbearing years." - from HealthDay
In case you missed this story during the ongoing Vioxx news....."Breast-feeding offers a host of health benefits for the baby, but a new study says it may help the mother avoid rheumatoid arthritis as well....They found that in women who nursed for four to 11 months, their risk of rheumatoid arthritis was reduced by 10 percent. Women who breast-fed between 12 and 23 months total had a 20 percent reduction in risk. If a woman spent more than 24 months of her life breast-feeding her children, the risk of rheumatoid arthritis dropped dramatically -- by 50 percent.....rheumatoid arthritis has a genetic component to it, so this information could be useful for women with the disease to pass down to their daughters who may still be in their childbearing years." - from HealthDay
Friday, November 19, 2004
FDA blamed for Vioxx troubles
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration failed to protect the public from Merck & Co. Inc.'s now-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx and is incapable of guarding America from dangerous drugs, a veteran FDA researcher told Congress on Thursday." - from Yahoo! Health
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration failed to protect the public from Merck & Co. Inc.'s now-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx and is incapable of guarding America from dangerous drugs, a veteran FDA researcher told Congress on Thursday." - from Yahoo! Health
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
ACR Posters: RA and non-melanoma skin cancer
Many studies have shown that RA patients have a higher risk of certain types of cancers. It is unknown whether this is because of the way RA affects the immune system, the way some RA drugs suppress the immune system, or both. In particular, European studies have shown that RA patients are at a higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Most NMSCs are found on parts of the body that get exposed to the sun, like the face and hands. They normally don’t affect other body areas. NMSC is almost always cured if detected early.
We decided to calculate the risk of NMSC in RA patients by comparing them to OA patients. OA and OA drugs do not affect the immune system like RA. Indeed, there is a slightly increased risk for RA patients. Use of prednisone and use of combination TNF-inhibitor (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) and methotrexate were also associated with an increased risk for the development of NMSC.
What does this mean for NDB patients? Probably not too much, because everybody (especially those with light-colored skin or previous skin problems) should always be alert to changes in the skin. And of course, you should always use sunscreen. You should tell your doctor any time you notice
Many studies have shown that RA patients have a higher risk of certain types of cancers. It is unknown whether this is because of the way RA affects the immune system, the way some RA drugs suppress the immune system, or both. In particular, European studies have shown that RA patients are at a higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Most NMSCs are found on parts of the body that get exposed to the sun, like the face and hands. They normally don’t affect other body areas. NMSC is almost always cured if detected early.
We decided to calculate the risk of NMSC in RA patients by comparing them to OA patients. OA and OA drugs do not affect the immune system like RA. Indeed, there is a slightly increased risk for RA patients. Use of prednisone and use of combination TNF-inhibitor (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) and methotrexate were also associated with an increased risk for the development of NMSC.
What does this mean for NDB patients? Probably not too much, because everybody (especially those with light-colored skin or previous skin problems) should always be alert to changes in the skin. And of course, you should always use sunscreen. You should tell your doctor any time you notice
- Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
- Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
- The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
- A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain
To see the poster, click the image here for a PowerPoint file.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
ACR Posters: Low-dose aspirin and stomach problems
Those of you taking Cox-2 drugs, such as Celebrex, may have heard that these cause fewer stomach problems than pain-killers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. We wondered whether people with RA or OA still had fewer problems if they took Cox-2's along with low-dose aspirin, which is commonly used by people with heart problems.
It turns out that people taking both do not have an increase in heartburn, ulcers or general stomach discomfort. However, we did find a small increase in the risk of nausea.
To see the poster, click the image here for a PowerPoint file.
Those of you taking Cox-2 drugs, such as Celebrex, may have heard that these cause fewer stomach problems than pain-killers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. We wondered whether people with RA or OA still had fewer problems if they took Cox-2's along with low-dose aspirin, which is commonly used by people with heart problems.
It turns out that people taking both do not have an increase in heartburn, ulcers or general stomach discomfort. However, we did find a small increase in the risk of nausea.
To see the poster, click the image here for a PowerPoint file.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
ACR Posters: Joint Infection and Anti-TNF Therapy
Continuing our reporting on the American College of Rheumatology meeting, here is what we found on joint infections and anti-TNF drugs.
Joint infection is a concern for RA patients who undergo total joint replacement surgery (TJR). Some recent research has shown that the risk of joint infection is much higher after TJR if the patient is taking anti-TNF therapy, such as Humira, Enbrel or Remicade.
We decided to look at the risk of joint infection in RA patients in the NDB. Joint infections are very rare. If we look at “patient years,” or the number of years a person has RA, we found only 1.2 cases per 1,000 patient years among patients who’ve never had TJR. That means that on average, you would have to live 833 years with RA to get a joint infection.
Patients who recently had TJR surgery have a greater risk, about 14 cases per 1,000 patient years. This makes sense, because any time the skin is broken, for surgery or just a scrape, the risk of infection goes up. Our skin is there to protect us, after all.
How did anti-TNF therapy affect the results? We found that the risk of infection doubled, but that if you haven’t had recent TJR surgery your risk is still extremely small. You’d have to live about 500 years to have a joint infection. Thanks to your help and this research, doctors have better knowledge about infection risks with anti-TNF drugs, rather than having to guess about the risk. Other RA drugs did not increase the risk.
To see the poster, click the image here for a PowerPoint file.
Continuing our reporting on the American College of Rheumatology meeting, here is what we found on joint infections and anti-TNF drugs.
Joint infection is a concern for RA patients who undergo total joint replacement surgery (TJR). Some recent research has shown that the risk of joint infection is much higher after TJR if the patient is taking anti-TNF therapy, such as Humira, Enbrel or Remicade.
We decided to look at the risk of joint infection in RA patients in the NDB. Joint infections are very rare. If we look at “patient years,” or the number of years a person has RA, we found only 1.2 cases per 1,000 patient years among patients who’ve never had TJR. That means that on average, you would have to live 833 years with RA to get a joint infection.
Patients who recently had TJR surgery have a greater risk, about 14 cases per 1,000 patient years. This makes sense, because any time the skin is broken, for surgery or just a scrape, the risk of infection goes up. Our skin is there to protect us, after all.
How did anti-TNF therapy affect the results? We found that the risk of infection doubled, but that if you haven’t had recent TJR surgery your risk is still extremely small. You’d have to live about 500 years to have a joint infection. Thanks to your help and this research, doctors have better knowledge about infection risks with anti-TNF drugs, rather than having to guess about the risk. Other RA drugs did not increase the risk.
To see the poster, click the image here for a PowerPoint file.
Now available for your support group or arthritis meetings....Our new pamphlets explain what we do and how you and can help. Each one has a postage-paid postcard to request more information or join the project. The pamphlets and a small table-top stand are available free from the NDB. Just send us an email!