Breakthrough

Breakthrough

Article 1 Arthritis Breakthrough: Prosorba Column

More than two million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an often crippling disease that can make the simplest task impossible. Now, for a small percentage who've found no relief from drugs, there's a breakthrough that may change lives.

Lisa Caswell says the simple act of walking without pain is a miracle. Eight years ago, she woke up with agonizing pain. "It was a sharp pain, like someone had a knife going into my joint," says Lisa. Six months and countless tests later, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself, causing pain and swelling in the joints. Drugs did not help. Lisa adds, "I was devastated over the several years of trying all these different medications that did nothing. I was frightened."

Daniel Furst, M.D., a rheumatologist at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., prescribed a treatment known as the Prosorba column for Lisa. It filters excess antibodies from the patient's blood and returns it. Doctors are uncertain exactly why it works. "What we can say is that it probably affects proteins, which then later turn down some of the white cells that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis," says Dr. Furst.

The Prosorba treatment involves 12 weekly trips to the hospital and two hours for the procedure. For some patients, including Lisa, relief can last up to a year or more. The Prosorba column, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in rheumatoid arthritis, is not a cure. Lisa will always be under a doctor's care to help control the disease, which she says no longer controls her.

It's estimated 10 percent of the 2.5 million Americans suffering from rheumatoid arthritis could benefit from the Prosorba treatment.

If you would like more information, please contact: Chris Schneider Virginia Mason Medical Center Communications Department 1100 Ninth Avenue J1-PR P.O. Box 900 Seattle, WA 98111

[ Up ]

DISCLAIMER:

The materials and information on this server are intended for educational and informational purposes only. The materials and information are not intended to replace the services of a trained health professional or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians and/or other health care professionals. The International Still's Disease Foundation is not engaged in rendering medical or professional medical services. You should consult your physician on specific medical questions, particularly in matters requiring diagnosis or medical attention. The International Still's Disease Foundation makes no representations or warranties with respect to any treatment, action, application medication or preparation by any person following the information offered or provided within this website. Any information used from other websites was done so with permission from each site, with an exception to those of "public domain", whereas we believe any site without a cited reference was a "public domain site" and for our use. The International Still's Disease Foundation is a non-profit organization. This page was last updated on January 17, 2001