Scientists hypothesize that rheumatoid arthritis develops in certain people when their immune system responds to something in the environment, such as a virus or bacteria. It may, however, only develop in some people because genetics plays a role. In this disease, inflammation develops in the affected joints, and as a result, cartilage and bone are destroyed. Superoxide dismutase is one available treatment.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects an estimated one percent of Americans and especially affects those older than 65 years old. It is an autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks a person's body instead of only attacking foreign substances. The disease causes inflammation and destruction in the joints, resulting in joint swelling, stiffness and pain. People may also feel tired, weak and have a fever.
What is Superoxide Dismutase?
If the oxygen in the tissues picks up an extra electron, this produces a harmful free oxygen radical that is also called a superoxide. While it does not live very long , it lives long enough to start a chain reaction, where another oxygen molecule is changed to a superoxide, which affects yet another oxygen molecule and so on. Superoxide dismutase is a protein, found in all tissues, which removes the harmful superoxide radical.
Superoxide and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scientists have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis not only have antibodies called rheumatoid factor in the joint fluid of the joints affected by this disease, they also have superoxide in the joint fluid. In the July 2007 issue of "Joint Bone Spine," Valéry Afonso writes that a high level of superoxide in the joint fluid results in inflammation and tissue damage. Since superoxide dismutase breaks down superoxide, superoxide dismutase is a new treatment for the joint diseases of osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
Superoxide Dismutase and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Because there is inflammation in the joints, one type of therapy involves intra-articular injections, or injections into the affected joint. I. Uthman writes in the August 2003 issue of the "Postgraduate Medical Journal," that hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids are used the most in intra-articular injections. Hyaluronic acid is a normal substance within the joints, while corticosteroids are synthetic steroid hormones. Superoxide dismutase is also used, under the name of Orgotein. Although it does not work as fast as corticosteroids, it is just as effective.
References
- "Hazzard's Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology"; Jeffrey Halter, M.D., Joseph Ouslander, M.D., Mary Tinetti, M.D. et al; 2009
- "Joint Bone Spine"; Reactive oxygen species and superoxide dismutases: Role in joint diseases; Valéry Afonso et al; July 2007
- "Postgraduate Medical Journal"; Intra-articular therapy in osteoarthritis; I. Uthman, J-P Raynauld, B. Haraoui; August 2003
- "Principles of Medical Biochemistry"; Gerhard Meisenberg, Ph.D., William Simmons, Ph.D.; 1998
