Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 1994 Nov-Dec;132(6):449-52.
[Perspectives in gene therapy in rheumatic and degenerative diseases of the spine and joints]
Evans CH, Wehling P, Reinecke J.
Dep. of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh.
Rheumatoid degenerative conditions of the spine and other joints are most common in elderly patients. Data by the "National Center for Health Statistics" state that approximately 500 in 1000 persons above 65 are affected. Numbers for Germany should be in the same range. Although a lot of research has been dedicated to these conditions many of the actual causes remain unclear. There is consensus about the involvement of Interleukin-1 in the development of rheumatoid arthritis RA. Recent results point towards a more refined understanding and a gene therapy approach utilizing synovial cells. The synovium will in this strategy be the locus of drug (eg hormone) synthesis antagonizing the rheumatoid disease. We believe that this new approach will have a major impact on the treatment of RA.