Hurting All Over? Neck and shoulders stiff? Read this and think about it

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http://www.heraldsun.com/healthmed/34-259778.html

Theory on Rheumatoid Arthritis Found

The Associated Press

Aug 22, 2002 : 11:46 am ET

BOSTON (AP) -- A study in mice raises the possibility that carbohydrates in

human tissue may be a target of the misguided immune system attack that

results in rheumatoid arthritis.

The case, however, is still far from proven, and much more research will be

necessary to show how these essential components of cells might be involved

in this crippling autoimmune disease, which affects about 2.1 million

Americans.

The research, conducted by Dr. Wang and colleagues from Boston's

Brigham and Women's Hospital, was presented Wednesday at a meeting of the

American Chemical Society.

Experts have long known that rheumatoid arthritis results when the body's

own disease-fighting cells attack the cartilage and joints. The new work

suggests that the specific target of this onslaught is essential

carbohydrates in the tissue.

" This is potentially of enormous importance, " said Dr. H. Klippel,

medical director of the Arthritis Foundation.

If the theory proves true, it could eventually lead to new medicines for

protecting the joints from this destruction.

The researchers believe the target of the disease is carbohydrates called

glycosaminoglycans, which are naturally present in joint cartilage and

fluid, among other places.

In the experiment, the researchers injected glycosaminoglycans into mice and

found that it triggered arthritis symptoms, including swelling, inflammation

and joint damage.

" This study shows that rheumatoid arthritis may result from the body's

mishandling of its own carbohydrates that, under normal circumstances, would

not be interpreted as a threat, " Wang said.

www.arthritis.org/

Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved