Arthritis might commonly be associated with joint pain and discomfort, but did you know that rheumatoid arthritis can damage a whole host of other parts and systems in the body? While osteoarthritis is classified as an inflammatory disorder, rheumatoid arthritis manifests as an autoimmune disorder.
That means apart from general wear-and-tear, the immune system continues to attack healthy cells, including the lining of the joints. The hands, feet, knees, and ankles are the most commonly affected and manifest as stiff joints, swollenness, and flares that feature fatigue and fever but also affect organs like the lungs, heart, and more. [1]
While you can decrease the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis through a healthy diet and ample physical activity, it isn’t something you can fully avoid, especially if you have a family history of it. Once diagnosed with the disease, there is no cure, but there is plenty of treatment available to treat and alleviate symptoms.
How IV Therapy Works for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Types of IV Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The variety of medicated IV therapies seek to either turn off or target one aspect of the immune system to alleviate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. [7] For example, Tocilizumab (or Actemra) works to suppress the protein interleukin-6, which can often be overproduced and dysregulated in the presence of chronic inflammation. [8] Another example is Rituximab (Rituxan), which targets B cells. In the case of an autoimmune disease, signaling abilities can be disrupted, and those B cells may remain in the body and accumulate. [9]
Benefits of IV Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
As an autoimmune disease, patients with rheumatoid arthritis experience higher levels of oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation. Research shows that they also find it difficult to maintain acceptable plasma vitamin C levels, as well as ascorbic acid concentrations, which is important for the synovial fluid – a fluid that is found in between the joints. When administered at higher dietary allowance levels, which IV therapy can do, vitamin C can have a preventative and therapeutic role. Since vitamin C is also important in collagen building, it can also help those with RA in that regard. [10]
In addition to the traditional benefits of IV therapy, such as rapid delivery, customization, targeted treatment, and convenience, the fact that this treatment can bypass the digestive system particularly helps those with autoimmune diseases – including rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases typically result in malabsorption issues in the gastrointestinal system – inflammation can damage the gut lining, and thus, nutrients and medications taken orally may not get absorbed effectively [11]. IV therapy can make sure patients receive the full benefit of their treatment and even compensate for any losses in nutrient absorption.
Future Trends: The Evolution of IV Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Healthcare is one of those industries that advances faster than others, driven by continuous scientific research, technological evolution, and the value of patient life. We’ve already seen IV therapy go from a standard treatment option in hospitals to a specialized and targeted therapy option for a variety of temporary ailments and complex medical conditions.
IV therapy is only set to become more advanced, with more refined biologic therapies to optimize treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and improved formulations that are more efficacious. We’ll likely also experience improvements in delivery systems, potentially enhancing the precision and safety of IV administration. Through a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and IV methodology, IV therapy can emerge as a mainstay in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, as well as other disease treatment protocols.
References:
1 – Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments and More. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment | Arthritis Foundation. (2021, October 15). https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis
2 – Kiser, A. K., & Pronovost, P. J. (2009). Management of diseases without current treatment options: something can be done. JAMA, 301(16), 1708–1709. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.506 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3076945/
3 – Crider, C. (2023, November 16). What Is Vitamin IV Therapy and How Does It Work?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-iv-therapy#frequency
4 – Fletcher, J. (2023, September 24). What to know about infusion therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/infusion-for-rheumatoid-arthritis
5 – Crider, C. (2023, November 16). What Is Vitamin IV Therapy and How Does It Work?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-iv-therapy#frequency
6 – Schmier, J., Ogden, K., Nickman, N., Halpern, M. T., Cifaldi, M., Ganguli, A., Bao, Y., & Garg, V. (2017). Costs of Providing Infusion Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Hospital-based Infusion Center Setting. Clinical therapeutics, 39(8), 1600–1617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2017.06.007 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28716293/
7 – Tanaka, T., Narazaki, M., & Kishimoto, T. (2014). IL-6 in inflammation, immunity, and disease. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 6(10), a016295. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a016295 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4176007/
8 – Tanaka, T., Narazaki, M., & Kishimoto, T. (2014). IL-6 in inflammation, immunity, and disease. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 6(10), a016295. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a016295 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4176007/
9 – Izquierdo JH, Cañas CA, Tobón GJ. B lymphocytes in autoimmunity. In: Anaya JM, Shoenfeld Y, Rojas-Villarraga A, et al., editors. Autoimmunity: From Bench to Bedside [Internet]. Bogota (Colombia): El Rosario University Press; 2013 Jul 18. Chapter 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459431/
10 – Cosgrove, J. (2013, January 17). Vitamin C Proves Promising for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Nutraceuticals World. https://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_online-exclusives/2013-01-17/vitamin-c-proves-promising-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/
11 – Cojocaru, M., Cojocaru, I. M., Silosi, I., & Vrabie, C. D. (2011). Gastrointestinal manifestations in systemic autoimmune diseases. Maedica, 6(1), 45–51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150032/
Dr .Taylor Froiland
President of Legere Pharmaceuticals
Taylor Froiland is the president of Legere Pharmaceuticals in Scottsdale, Arizona and serves on the Board of Directors for RK Logistics Group. He also owns and operates Medmetrics Compounding Pharmacy in Chandler, Arizona, specializing in various pharmaceutical services. Taylor holds a PharmD and has expertise in compounding, medicinal chemistry, and quality control.
