Unique treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

LORENZA SANTOS has accomplished much in her life. From a successful 46-year marriage and family life that includes four children and several grandchildren, to her career in real estate and active lifestyle, Lorenza has kept herself happy and, more importantly, healthy.

At 61, however, she began experiencing discomfort in her knees and lower joints. The pain progressed to the point that she could no longer walk without a cane.

Looking for a solution

Worried that her worsening pain might be a nerve problem, she consulted a neurologist in 2009. The doctor advised her to get knee replacement surgery, but her family was against it, citing not only the expense but the potential risks.

A second neurologist referred her to an orthopedic surgeon who drained the water from her knees and prescribed steroids for the pain. But her pain recurred so he referred her to Dr. Nympha Ribargoso, a rheumatologist at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center on Aurora Boulevard, and at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Mandaluyong City.

Lorenzo was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or RA, “a shock to me because I was healthy and no one in my immediate family had it,” she says. Lorenza was also positive for rheumatoid factor, which makes her RA carry a more aggressive course.

Finding the right treatment

With the proper diagnosis, Lorenza and her husband, together with Dr. Ribargoso, plotted out an effective treatment for her, one that would yield as little side effects as possible.

After starting her on methotrexate and pain relievers for the pain and swelling, Lorenza was given Rituximab infusions. After just two infusions, “I could feel the difference in three weeks,” Lorenza says. “The pain began to subside and the inflammation started going away, too. I was slowly going back to the way I felt before the pain began. I couldn’t believe it.”

Finding her way back

After two years of struggling with the pain and swelling of her lower extremities, followed by her upper joints, Lorenza finally found the relief she had long been looking for. Since her infusions with Rituximab, life has finally gone back to normal.

“For the first time in years, I can do aerobics again and enjoy walks with my husband,” Lorenza says. “It’s good to be mobile again.”

With a successful first year of treatment, follow-up check-ups, and a few maintenance medications, Lorenza is steadily improving. “She has responded very well to the treatment,” says Dr. Ribargoso. “We can look at giving her infusions annually based on her treatment progress. It makes the treatment more efficient and the effects are long-lasting.”

Rituximab is a unique therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), specifically targeting the B cell—a component of the immune system and key factor in autoimmune-mediated inflammation. By targeting the B cell, Rituximab provides patients with an alternative treatment that has been proven successful in the treatment of RA.

Visit www.roche.com.