Rheumatoid Arthritis patients usually suffer flu-like symptoms due to chemical substances in their blood which are dumped there due to an overly-aggressive immune system. Flu-like symptoms include constant low-grade fevers, muscle pain and weakness, lack of appetite, and extremely easily depleted energy levels.
Medical research char
ity Arthritis Research UK has awarded £235,000 to a team of Birmingham scientists to help people with muscle weakness, caused by inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Muscle weakness is common in people with all forms of inflammatory arthritis, especially with rheumatoid arthritis, and it is a high risk factor of falls in people with the conditions.
The Arthritis Research UK funded team at the University of Birmingham hope their findings will lead to the development of new treatments to strengthen muscles which could reduce the chances of further pain and disability caused by falls.
The scientists will use their three year grant to study the effect that a person’s own production of anti-inflammatory steroids, found within muscle tissues, has on losing tissue and strength.
Lead researcher, Dr Karim Raza said, “We hope that by increasing our understanding of the role that inflammation has on muscle loss, we’ll be able in the future to develop new treatments to reverse its effects.”
Medical director of Arthritis Research UK, Professor Alan Silman added, “Lack of muscle strength affects many people with inflammatory arthritis and can lead to falls, which can greatly reduce a person’s quality of life. Any new clues from Dr Raza’s study about how to help build and maintain muscle strength will be really important and could benefit many people with inflammatory arthritis in the future.”
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition, in which a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing damage, pain and disability for half a million people in the UK. The risk of falls in people with rheumatoid arthritis is 50 per cent higher than in people without the condition.
The team’s findings could benefit other inflammatory conditions such as colitis and asthma – in which loss of muscle tissue and strength are also seen.
Medical research char
ity Arthritis Research UK has awarded £235,000 to a team of Birmingham scientists to help people with muscle weakness, caused by inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.Muscle weakness is common in people with all forms of inflammatory arthritis, especially with rheumatoid arthritis, and it is a high risk factor of falls in people with the conditions.
The Arthritis Research UK funded team at the University of Birmingham hope their findings will lead to the development of new treatments to strengthen muscles which could reduce the chances of further pain and disability caused by falls.
The scientists will use their three year grant to study the effect that a person’s own production of anti-inflammatory steroids, found within muscle tissues, has on losing tissue and strength.
Lead researcher, Dr Karim Raza said, “We hope that by increasing our understanding of the role that inflammation has on muscle loss, we’ll be able in the future to develop new treatments to reverse its effects.”
Medical director of Arthritis Research UK, Professor Alan Silman added, “Lack of muscle strength affects many people with inflammatory arthritis and can lead to falls, which can greatly reduce a person’s quality of life. Any new clues from Dr Raza’s study about how to help build and maintain muscle strength will be really important and could benefit many people with inflammatory arthritis in the future.”
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition, in which a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing damage, pain and disability for half a million people in the UK. The risk of falls in people with rheumatoid arthritis is 50 per cent higher than in people without the condition.
The team’s findings could benefit other inflammatory conditions such as colitis and asthma – in which loss of muscle tissue and strength are also seen.
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