Prevention of rheumatoid arthritis could be a possibility, thanks to a new trial led by King’s College London. Rheumatology professor at KCL, Professor Andrew Cope, has said that the jab, currently used to treat established rheumatoid arthritis, is also ‘effective in preventing the onset of disease in people at risk.’ Offering millions hope of slowing or even stopping progression of the chronic disease.
- Managing rheumatoid arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis: why don't patients take their medications?
- Understanding autoimmune conditions
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that affects 18 million people globally, including half a million in the UK. The condition causes joint pain, swelling and, according to the World Health Organisation, can lead to heart, lung, and nervous system problems. Currently, there is no prevention or cure for rheumatoid arthritis, so this latest trial provides hope for many living with or suffering from the early stages of the disease.
The trial, published today in the Lancet, recruited 213 patients at high risk of the disease. Half received the jab, known as abatacept, while the rest received a placebo. Abatacept is already in use for those with established rheumatoid arthritis, as a second or third line treatment. However the trial found that at the 24-month mark, there was a significant difference between the two groups, with a 12% difference in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Participants also saw some positive secondary outcomes, including improvements in pain sores, functional wellbeing, and quality of life measurements.
While rheumatoid arthritis can affect young people, symptoms mostly arise during middle age, worsening as people get older. Currently, over 65s account for 19% of the UK population, with this set to rise to 22% over the next 10 years. With an aging population, Professor Cope noted that this new jab will also benefit the NHS, as the condition ‘will become more expensive to treat with a growing aging population.’
The jab isn’t without some potential side effects, including upper respiratory tract infections, dizziness, nausea and diarrhoea. However, these are generally mild. Professor Cope explained what was next for the preventative vaccine. ‘Our next steps are to understand people at risk in more detail so that we can be absolutely sure that those at highest risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis receive the drug.’