Wednesday, April 17, 2013

By Adele Madden


Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, also referred to simply as AIHA, is a kind of anemia that is not extremely common. It causes a person's body to form and produce antibodies that turn on its own red blood cells. When this occurs, these cells are eventually permanently destroyed long before they would die a natural death. Liposomal clodronate is a drug that is currently being evaluated by a broad range of researchers in the health the medical field. These individuals are testing the substance to see if it may be a viable treatment for AIHA.

In a vast number of cases, surgery must be performed to treat the aforementioned disorder. As most people are aware of, surgery of any type can result in complications. This is particularly true if the patient is of an advanced age or has additional health issues or underlying diseases.

Those with suppressed immune systems are not usually the best candidates for surgery. People who must use certain medications may also be told that they are at an increased risk for complications if surgery is necessary. These and other reasons lead researchers to focus their efforts on finding new medications for AIHA, instead of developing more surgical options.

Fortunately, today's modern technology has allowed scientists to isolate the type of agent that is needed to correct the red blood cell destruction that is caused by AIHA: antimacrophage agents are essential in order to stop the destructive activity occurring within the bloodstreams of individuals suffering from AIHA.

Medical scientists have found that liposomally encapsulated clodronate can restore the imbalance that causes a person's immune system to turn on its own red blood cells. Additional research is being conducted to determine if the initial findings were as positive in reality as they appeared to be in the initial studies.

To determine the effectiveness of this substance, a two-year study was completed on laboratory mice. Two groups of mice were given 2 distinctly different antibodies. In both groups, when liposomal clodronate was administered, it substantially lowered the speed at which the red blood cells were attacked. The benefits of the drug lasted as long as two weeks, and it took effect very quickly.

Scientists are optimistic about this substance and its possible benefits for those suffering from AIHA. Many experts and health researchers are of the opinion that the use of the drug may be just as beneficial as a type of surgery called a medicinal splenectomy. As one might suspect, the use of this substance would likely be linked to fewer risks than any type of surgery. The substance may also be advantageous in scenarios where a quick response to therapy is vital.

In addition, positive results were observed when liposomal clodronate was used to suppress macrophage activity in various situations. These included organ transplants, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders and gene therapy. For this reason, anyone suffering from AIHA has reason to hope that this drug may eventually be developed and marketed as a treatment or even a cure for this destructive blood disorder. However, additional research is still necessary to thoroughly understand all the beneficial effects of the drug.




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