It is a chronic disease that impacts the lives of almost half a million people in the UK. But arthritis sufferers have been offered fresh hope in the battle against the painful condition after a breakthrough by scientists.
Scottish experts have found a way of letting people with rheumatoid arthritis prevent painful flare-ups before they gather pace. The findings could help detect when a flare-up is on the way, enabling patients to take medication to prevent an attack and manage their condition far better.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the joints. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the hands, feet, and wrists. There may be periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups.
The latest figures show that around 450,000 adults in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis, while around one percent of the world's population are affected. Among sufferers in the UK is actress Claire King, 62, who spoke openly about her daily struggles with the condition as she competed in Strictly Come Dancing.
"Recent advancements in technology allow us to examine tissue at high resolution, identifying specific cell-to-cell interactions. This helps to pinpoint the cause of diseases, such as flare-ups, before they begin," said Professor Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska from the University of Glasgow.
"We hope this research is the first step to find new ways to help more arthritis patients and to optimize their management, letting them stay symptom-free and remain in remission after their therapeutic journey," added Professor Stefano Alivernini from Rome's Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
The new study was led by researchers at the University of Glasgow as part of RACE (Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre 'Versus Arthritis'). The team examined patients' joints by analyzing their tissue and discovered a crucial difference in dendritic cells' behavior. These cells are responsible for gathering clues about potential threats and then either activating or suppressing immune cells.
The scientists found that in patients who were at risk of flare-ups, dendritic cells were detected in blood weeks before recurrence suggests these cells could be used as biomarkers to help keep people in remission. That means people at risk could take medication to prevent an attack.
"Flare-ups are a painful and frequent challenge for those living with rheumatoid arthritis," said Dr Caroline Aylott from Versus Arthritis. "By using this new technology... we are closer to using these as markers to predict when painful flare-ups will occur."