Arthritis drug may improve coronavirus patients – but experts warn effects are far from proven

An arthritis drug may better the conditions of severely ill coronavirus patients, a new small study suggests. Researchers found more that than 70 percent treated with anakinra, sold under the brand name Kineret, showed improvements in breathing and reduced signs of inflammation.  The team, from San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy, says its findings are … Read more

Critically-ill coronavirus patient saved by quick-thinking doctor who gave him an arthritis drug

A critically-ill coronavirus patient was saved after getting a promising arthritis drug that is being trialled by doctors worldwide. Leonard Whitehurst was admitted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital on March 16 with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Over the course of his stay, his condition deteriorated until his prognosis was ‘very grim’, according to medics … Read more

Arthritis drug may prevent severely ill coronavirus patients from needing life support

Severely ill coronavirus patients were less likely to die and less likely to need life support after just two doses of arthritis drug, new study finds Half of 129 severely ill coronavirus patients received two injections of tocilizumab, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis Those given the shots were less likely to be put on … Read more

Hundreds of critically-ill coronavirus patients will be given an arthritis drug in RECOVERY trial

Tocilizumab, marketed as Actemra, will be given to hundreds of critically ill coronavirus patients in the NHS Hundreds of critically ill coronavirus patients in the NHS will be given an arthritis drug as part of the world’s largest trial of promising therapies. Tocilizumab, sold as RoActemra or Actemra, will be administered to patients whose lungs … Read more

Tatum O’Neal reveals her surgery scars and bruises left by rheumatoid arthritis

Tatum O’Neal has revealed her back covered in surgery scars, bruises from falls and heating pad burns from her battle with rheumatoid arthritis. The actress posted a series of photos to Instagram, including one on Wednesday showing red marks, black-and-blue spots and long scratches. ‘Living with rheumatoid arthritis. A fall scratch scar on my right … Read more

UK charity develops coronavirus ‘chatbot’ to help people with arthritis

UK charity develops ‘chatbot’ to help people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions get medical advice and deal with isolation during the coronavirus crisis AI-powered tool COVA has been developed by British charity Versus Arthritis It was created after the charity was inundated with requests for help  Chatbot incorporates advice from NHS and government sources … Read more

Coronavirus China: Arthritis drug ‘helped cure’ 95% critically ill

What is the coronavirus?  A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more

Could SCORPION venom treat arthritis? Study finds it ‘reverses joint swelling’

Scientists say that scorpion venom could one day be used to treat arthritis.  A protein within scorpion venom was found to help deliver steroid medication in a safer way, reducing its side effects.   Testing on mice, the US researchers found the protein reversed joint inflammation but wasn’t toxic to other parts of the body. The … Read more