I GOT THIS IN AN EMAIL today!!!! Has anyone ever heard of this befor?>?? it sounds promising but I dont know how true the article is? sounds like another good step in the right direction what do you all think?



*Infliximab May Reduce Arthritis In Ankylosing Spondylitis**** *
>
> REUTERS HEALTH, 01/19/2006
>
> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Intraarticular injection of infliximab
> proved to be an effective and safe treatment for refractory inflammatory
> monoarthritis in three ankylosing spondylitis patients, researchers in
> Belgium report.
>
> Dr. Lieve Schatteman of St. Augustinus Hospital in Antwerp and
> colleagues found that a single 100-mg injection into the affected joint
> produced remission of arthritis symptoms for up to 3 months in two of
> the patients and for up to 4 months in the third.
>
> Tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers have been shown to be effective in
> treating ankylosing spondylitis when given intravenously, Dr.
> Schatteman's team notes in their report, published in the Journal of
> Rheumatology for January. They performed the current study to determine
> if intraarticular injections could avoid the need for IV treatment in
> patients with severe peripheral disease whose axial symptoms did not
> warrant systemic trankeatment.
>
> The three patients, including a 24-year-old man, a 27-year-old woman and
> a 48-year-old man, had swelling, pain and immobility in one knee that
> did not respond to treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
> or intraarticular injections of corticosteroids. Two patients also were
> on methotrexate.
>
> All patients received an injection in the affected joint under local
> anesthesia, and were evaluated 4 weeks later. No adverse reactions were
> seen, mobility was restored, and pain and swelling had completely
> resolved. A decrease in synovial thickening and the amount of fluid
> within the joint was seen on MRI, and scores on the Bath Ankylosing
> Spondylitis Disease Activity Index were reduced.
>
> "Our report demonstrates the beneficial effects of intraarticular
> infliximab in refractory arthritis in patients with ankylosing
> spondylitis and confirms results of a recently published case report,"
> the researchers conclude. "This procedure could be considered an
> effective and safe treatment for therapy of refractory monoarthritis in
> patients with ankylosing spondylitis and an alternative to TNF-blocking
> therapy."
>
> Copyright (c) 2006 Reuters Health Information All Rights Reserved