Can blood samples predict arthritic rheumatism?

This means that such blood samples could be used to predict the development of the disease and thereby make it possible to prevent the pathological process, according to an article by Umeå researcher Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist and her associates in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

The research team analyzed blood samples from 86 individuals who donated samples to the Medical Biobank before they developed arthritic rheumatism. Of these, 69 had submitted samples at the time they were developing the disease.

Moreover, blood samples were analyzed from 256 population-based matched controls from the Medical Biobank. The concentrations of 30 different cytokines and cytokine-related factors in plasma were measured using a so-called multiplex system.

The results show that individuals that later developed arthritic rheumatism had significantly elevated levels of most cytokines and that these cytokine patterns distinguished them from the control individuals. There was a connection with several different parts of the immune defense and also with specific auto-antibodies, so-called anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. The results indicate that several years before individuals develop symptoms of arthritic rheumatism, the immune system is activated and the process that leads to arthritic rheumatism has started.

“Our findings point to the possibility of better predicting the development of arthritic rheumatism and perhaps also of preventing the development of the disease,” says Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist.

Arthritic rheumatism is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation that ultimately leads to the breakdown of cartilage and bone. The disease is difficult to diagnose early since its symptoms can often be diffuse at first. However, studies have shown that it is important to diagnose and treat the disease early in order to prevent severe joint damage.

For more information, please contact Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University.

Phone: +46 (0)90-785 17 29, e-mail: solbritt.rantapaa.dahlqvist@medicin.umu.se

Pressofficer Bertil Born;bertil.born@adm.umu.se; +46-70388 60 58

Reference:
Kokkonen H., Söderström I., Rocklöv J., Hallamans G., Lejon K., and
Rantapää-Dahlqvist S: Up-regulation of Cytokines and Chemokines
Predates the Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jan
7;62(2):383-391

Media Contact

Bertil Born idw

More Information:

http://www.vr.se

All latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry

Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.

Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors