Promising treatment developed for inflammatory diseases

AORN Journal, Oct, 2006

Researchers have found that several new, non-biological medications have promising antiinflammatory properties, according to a Sept 6, 2006, news release from Medical News Today. These medications, known as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, not only appear to destroy inflammatory celts (ie, neutrophits), but also trigger a macrophage reaction, which removes the neutrophils from the affected joint or organ.

Inflammatory diseases (eg, fibrosing alveotitis, rheumatoid arthritis) are commonly treated with steroid medications. These biologically based compounds, however, have many side effects and can create difficulties for patients. The CDK inhibitors do not appear to cause the same side effects. Some CDK inhibitors, which currently are being tested in the treatment of cancer, were shown to induce neutrophil destruction in vitro.

Hope Offered to Patients with Lung and Joint Disease by Key Study (news release, Cancun, Mexico: Medical News Today, Sept 6, 2006) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=51135 (accessed 6 Sept 2006).