Arthritis Drug May Prolong Life
Study: Drug Decreases Premature Deaths
POSTED: 12:12 p.m. EST April 5, 2002
LONDON -- New research indicates a key drug for rheumatoid
arthritis could help people with the crippling disease live longer.
Methotrexate fights inflammation that the
disease causes, and slows progression of the condition. The study, published in The
Lancet, found patients on methotrexate were 60 percent less likely to die
prematurely. They were 70 percent less likely to die of heart
disease.
Hyon Choi from Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, and Frederick Wolfe from University of Kansas School of Medicine, who led the study, think inflammation may play a role in heart attacks, and anti-inflammatory drugs might ward off the attacks.
"The survival benefit of methotrexate would set a standard against which new disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs should be compared," Hyon Choi said.
But experts say the study's method could not rule out the
possibility that factors other than methotrexate increased
lifespan.
Methotrexate fights inflammation that the
disease causes, and slows progression of the condition. The study, published in The
Lancet, found patients on methotrexate were 60 percent less likely to die
prematurely. They were 70 percent less likely to die of heart
disease.
Hyon Choi from Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, and Frederick Wolfe from University of Kansas School of Medicine, who led the study, think inflammation may play a role in heart attacks, and anti-inflammatory drugs might ward off the attacks.
"The survival benefit of methotrexate would set a standard against which new disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs should be compared," Hyon Choi said.
But experts say the study's method could not rule out the
possibility that factors other than methotrexate increased
lifespan.
Copyright 2002 by Lifewhile.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
