Can Immunotherapy Treat Other Conditions?

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating inflammatory disorder where the patient's immune system attacks a variety of systems in the body, including the joints, skin, eyes, lungs, blood vessels, and heart. The lining of the joints is one of the most commonly affected areas of the body by rheumatoid arthritis. The immune system attacks the cells in the joint lining, resulting in swelling that can cause joint deformity, severe pain, and bone erosion. While traditional treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help with inflammation initially, they do not stop the disease from worsening. If NSAIDs are ineffective, steroids may be used to help slow down the rheumatoid arthritis progression. 

When these options are ineffective, an affected individual may need immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treatments for rheumatoid arthritis patients work by interrupting the immune responses that cause their joint inflammation. Biological response modifiers are a natural part of the immune system utilized to treat rheumatoid arthritis. These response modifiers are produced in large portions in a laboratory, and they are placed back into the individual's body. These modifiers then help target the T-cells and a protein called interleukin-1 that are the critical factors associated with rheumatoid arthritis inflammation.