New test could help people with rheumatoid arthritis prevent flare ups

It is a chronic disease that impacts the lives of almosty half a million people in the UK.

But arthritis sufferers have been offered fresh hope in the battle against the painful condition after a breakthrough by scientists.

Scottish experts hace found a way of letting people with rheumatoid arthritis prevent painful flare ups before they gather pace.

The findings could help detect when a flare up is on the way, enabling patients to take medication to prevent an attack and manage their condition far better.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the joints.

Symptoms include pain, swelling and stiffness in the hands, feet and wrists.

There may be periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups.

The latest figures show that around 450,000 adults in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis, while around one per cent of the world’s population are affected.

Among sufferers in the UK is actress Claire King, 62, who spoke openly about her daily struggles with the condition as she competed in Strictly Come Dancing.

Professor Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska, senior author of the study from the University of Glasgow, said: ‘Recent advancements in technology allow us to examine tissue at high resolution, identifying specific cell-to-cell interactions. This helps to pinpoint the cause of diseases, such as flare-ups, before they begin.’ 

Professor Stefano Alivernini, senior co-author of the study from the Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore from Rome, said: ‘We hope this research is the first step to find new ways to help more arthritis patients and to optimize their management, letting them stay symptom free and remain in remission after their therapeutic journey.’

Rheumatoid arthritis was discussed widely when actress Claire King, who has it, was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and spoke about the daily challenges she faces.

During the competition, the Emmerdale star said she was often ‘dancing ‘through gritted teeth’.

She had said: ‘Most mornings when I get out of bed, the initial contact with the floor leads to sharp pains shooting up through the balls of my feet.

‘I have to hobble around the room for half an hour or so until my feet have decided to accept that I am going to be walking on them for the rest of the day.

‘Then, before each daily practice, I have to strap my heels carefully with a mixture of pads and bandages to try to minimise their impact on the dancefloor. And after the show is over and the adrenaline of performing live in front of millions has started to fade, I am the first to take off my shoes.’

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However, she did not let the challenges she faced deter her, and had stated: ‘I am not a quitter - nor do I want the sympathy vote because I have rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve never let my illness stand in the way of anything I have wanted to do and I am not about to start.’

The new study was led by researchers at the University of Glasgow as part of RACE (Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre ‘Versus Arthritis’).

The team examined the joints of patients by analysing their tissue and discovered a crucial difference in the behaviour of ‘dendritic cells’, which are often described as ‘cell detectives’ because of their role capturing and processing information from other cells in the body.

Dendretic cells are responsible for gathering clues about potential threats and then either activating or suppressing immune cells.

The scientists found that in patients who were at risk of flare-ups, dendritic cells were detected in the blood weeks before the recurrence of the disease, suggesting these cells could be used as biomarkers to help keep people in remission.

That means people at risk of a flare up could take medication to prevent an attack.

Rheumatoid arthritis commonly starts in adults between the ages of 40 and 60 years-old and is more common in women than men.

Although treatments have improved, many people experience painful and unpredictable flare-ups.  

Dr Caroline Aylott, Head of Research Delivery at Versus Arthritis, said: ‘Flare-ups are a painful and frequent challenge for those living with rheumatoid arthritis, often with debilitating effects that disrupt daily life.

‘By using this new technology, researchers are able to look in more detail than ever before at the cells responsible for inflammation in the joint. This means we are closer to using these as markers to predict when painful flare-ups will occur, which will help people to manage their rheumatoid arthritis better.’