Health

A Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 31, 2002 / 8:43 AM EST / CBS

A major breakthrough in scientific research could spell relief for millions of people suffering with rheumatoid arthritis. A team of British researchers plans to announce in Philadelphia this week the first evidence of a safe and effective cure.

"This could get rid of the disease long-term," says Johnathan Edwards, a professor at the University College London. "It's very exciting."

Researchers say they may have discovered what causes rheumatoid arthritis. They point the finger at so-called "B" cells, white blood cells that accidentally attack healthy tissues. In tests, investigators found a single treatment with a new drug wipes out the destructive B cells.

The study involved 20 patients, some of whom had rheumatoid arthritis for more than 20 years. After treatment with the new drug, investigators say most of the participants had been able to return to normal lives. Only two saw no benefit at all.

Although the results look promising, Edwards warns that the study was small, and that further research was needed to confirm the findings.

John Klippel of the Arthritis Foundation has seen the study and is excited. He says he believes it's a step to a cure.

Doctors say it could be five years before the new medication studied in this research could reach the market. Even then, they say this breakthrough, if proven, could mark the beginning of the end for a serious, debilitating disease.