Window of opportunity to treat RA

Taken from NRAS magazine, Spring 2010

Dr Karim Raza from the MRC Centre for Immune Regulation at the University of Birmingham, recently wrote an article entitled ‘early rheumatoid arthritis—the window narrows’. Dr Raza points out that synovitis (synovitis is the medical term for inflammation of the membrane that lines a joint, the synovial membrane) drives joint destruction and that treatments that have an effect on the immune system that are given when someone’s RA is established are not  cures, but limit synovitis and hence slow down destruction of joints.

Now it is possible to predict the development of RA in people with very early synovitis and so giving targeted treatments very early is a real option. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that if treatments are given within the first few months after the onset of symptoms they could be more successful than if given when the disease is more established, hence this gives a ‘window of opportunity’.

Unfortunately the majority of people with very early synovitis delay for some time before going to their doctor. But if the public knew of the signs of early synovitis and understood the significance of seeking early medical help it would a great benefit for people who are developing RA. NRAS as Joint Chair of the Rheumatology Futures Group is working collaboratively with other stakeholders on a public awareness campaign.