Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction.
Malaria drug useful for autoimmune diseases
Re: Research into the use of standard malaria drug is found to have new anti-inflammatory affects against a wide range of autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and asthma, as well as some cancers. The drug is hoped to reduce the use of steroids in patients.
A team of researchers led by Dr. H. Eric Xu focused on the anti-malaria drug chloroquine and a derivative drug amodiaquine. The researchers found that chloroquine works by joining with hormones known as glucocorticoids to signal cells to block the inflammation on a molecular level.
This will lead to clinical trials very quickly. So often these basic discoveries are years and years away from clinical application.
Note: since the drug is already well researched and established, the FDA does allow Off Label Use, when a doctor feels it may help the patient. Present this to your doctors, so they may keep up with the research process and/or work in cooperation with the Institute.
Source: The Grand Rapids Press, July 28, 2011
Grand Rapids, MI
Contacts for more information:
EM: Author: sthoms@grpress.com
Van Andel Institute Research Hospital
616-234-5000
333 Boswick Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Re: Research into the use of standard malaria drug is found to have new anti-inflammatory affects against a wide range of autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and asthma, as well as some cancers. The drug is hoped to reduce the use of steroids in patients.
A team of researchers led by Dr. H. Eric Xu focused on the anti-malaria drug chloroquine and a derivative drug amodiaquine. The researchers found that chloroquine works by joining with hormones known as glucocorticoids to signal cells to block the inflammation on a molecular level.
This will lead to clinical trials very quickly. So often these basic discoveries are years and years away from clinical application.
Note: since the drug is already well researched and established, the FDA does allow Off Label Use, when a doctor feels it may help the patient. Present this to your doctors, so they may keep up with the research process and/or work in cooperation with the Institute.
Source: The Grand Rapids Press, July 28, 2011
Grand Rapids, MI
Contacts for more information:
EM: Author: sthoms@grpress.com
Van Andel Institute Research Hospital
616-234-5000
333 Boswick Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
I was on plaquinil for a while too for the RA. It didn't do anything. I remember that I had to have regular eye exams as it can effect the eyes. This was several years ago now.
Unlike its predecessors, the institute has dedicated resources, space and such for small individual research projects submitted by researchers to test theories and research that due to their population size (difficulty in finding enough patients to submit to trials and test for undesirable side affects) dont receive the recognition, nor can they compete with the larger university and pharmaceutical funding, that are motivated by profits and finding the next miracle drug, that has wide spread use.
Another recent discovery that was the result of another failed experiment totally unrelated to the original research goal, resulted in discovering another drug that aided in suppressing a rare childhood disease, by inhibiting certain biochemicals within the body. She has now focused her research in this area of study.