Reactive Arthritis Samples for Research

Bay Biosciences provides high-quality, matched fresh frozen sera (serum),  plasma, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluids from patients diagnosed with reactive arthritis.

Moreover, the sera (serum), plasma and PBMC bio-fluids are processed from reactive arthritis patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

In addition, the matched bio-fluids are collected from unique patients with reactive arthritis  and are provided to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, development and drug discovery.

Reactive Arthritis Overview

In fact, reactive arthritis, formerly known as Reiter’s syndrome, is a form of inflammatory arthritisthat develops in response to an infection in another part of the body (cross-reactivity). Furthermore, reactive arthritis is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis (joint disease due to inflammation).

Specifically, it occurs in reaction to an infection by certain bacteria. Most often, these bacteria are in the genitals (Chlamydia trachomatis) or the bowel (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia). Notably, Chlamydia most often transmits by sex. Additionally, it often has no symptoms; however, it can cause a pus-like or watery discharge from the genitals.

Moreover, the bowel bacteria can cause diarrhea. Consequently, if you develop arthritis within one month of diarrhea or a genital infection, especially with a discharge, you may have reactive arthritis. In particular, reactive arthritis tends to occur most often in men between ages 20 and 50.

Previously, reactive arthritis was called by the name “Reiter’s syndrome,” which was characterized by eye, urethra, and joint inflammation. However, now it belongs to the family of arthritis called “spondyloarthritis.” Overall, reactive arthritis isn’t common. For most patients, signs and symptoms come and go; ultimately, they eventually disappear within 12 months.

Causes of Reactive Arthritis

Reactive arthritis develops in reaction to an infection in the body, often in the intestines, genitals or urinary tract. You might not be aware of the triggering infection if it causes mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Numerous bacteria can cause reactive arthritis. Some are transmitted sexually, and others are foodborne.

Following are the most common type of bacterial infections that can cause reactive arthritis:

  • Chlamydia
  • Salmonella
  • Shigella
  • Yersinia
  • Campylobacter
  • Clostridium difficile

Reactive arthritis is not a contagious disease. However, the bacteria that cause it can be transmitted sexually or in contaminated food. Only a few of the people who are exposed to these bacteria develop reactive arthritis.

The bacteria induce (cause) arthritis by distorting the body’s defense against infections, as well as the genetic environment. How exactly each of these factors plays a role in the disease likely varies from patient to patient.

Reactive arthritis can have any or all of the following features features:

  • Pain and swelling of certain joints, often the knees and/or ankles
  • Swelling and pain at the heels
  • Extensive swelling of the toes or fingers
  • Persistent low back pain, which tends to be worse at night or in the morning

Some patients with this type of arthritis also have eye redness and irritation. Still other signs and symptoms include burning with urination and a rash on the palms or the soles of the feet.

Signs and Symptoms of Reactive Arthritis

Signs and symptoms of reactive arthritis generally start one to four weeks after exposure to a triggering infection. Following are the common signs and symptoms of reactive arthritis:

  • Pain and stiffness: The joint pain associated with reactive arthritis most commonly occurs in the knees, ankles and feet. Reactive arthritis patients may also have pain in the heels, lower back or buttocks.
  • Eye inflammation: Many patients who have reactive arthritis also develop eye inflammation (conjunctivitis).
  • Urinary problems: Reactive arthritis patients have increased frequency and discomfort during urination, as can inflammation of the prostate gland or cervix also may occur.
  • Inflammation of soft tissue where it enters bone (enthesitis): This might include muscles, tendons and ligaments.
  • Swollen toes or fingers: In some reactive arthritis cases, the toes or fingers might become so swollen that they look like sausages.
  • Skin problems: Reactive arthritis can affect the skin a variety of ways, including a rash on the soles and palms and mouth sores.
  • Lower back pain: The pain tends to be worse at night or in the morning.

Reactive Arthritis Genetics

The bacteria that cause reactive arthritis are very common. In theory, anyone who becomes infected with these germs might develop reactive arthritis. Yet very few patients with bacterial diarrhea actually go on to have serious reactive arthritis. What remains unclear is the role of Chlamydia infection that has no symptoms. It is possible that some cases of arthritis of unknown cause are due to Chlamydia.

Reactive arthritis tends to occur most often in men between ages 20 and 50. Some patients with reactive arthritis carry a gene called HLA-B27. Patients who test positive for HLA-B27 gene often have a more sudden and severe onset of symptoms. They also are more likely to have chronic (long-lasting) symptoms. Yet, patients who are HLA-B27 negative (do not have the gene) can still get reactive arthritis after exposure to an organism that causes it. Patients with weakened immune systems due to AIDS and HIV can also develop reactive arthritis.

Reactive Arthritis Diagnosis

Rheumatologists are experts in diagnosing arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Other doctors may feel less comfortable diagnosing reactive arthritis, because reactive arthritis diagnosis is based on clinical features and not only the diagnostic tests.

Diagnosis is largely based on symptoms of the inducing infections and appearance of typical musculoskeletal (joint and muscle) involvement. If indicated, doctors might order a test for Chlamydia infection or test for the HLA-B27 gene. The test for Chlamydia uses a urine sample or a swab of the genitals. During the physical exam, your doctor is likely to check your joints for signs and symptoms of inflammation, such as swelling, warmth and tenderness, and test range of motion in your spine and affected joints. Your doctor might also check your eyes for inflammation and your skin for rashes.

Blood tests

Your doctor might recommend that a sample of your blood be tested for:

  • Evidence of past or current infection
  • Signs of inflammation
  • Antibodies associated with other types of arthritis
  • A genetic marker HLA B27 linked to reactive arthritis

Joint fluid tests

Your doctor might use a needle to withdraw a sample of synovial fluid from within an affected joint. This fluid will be tested for:

  • White blood cell count: An increased number of white blood cells might indicate inflammation or an infection.
  • Infections: Bacteria in your joint fluid might indicate septic arthritis, which can result in severe joint damage.
  • Crystals: Uric acid crystals in your joint fluid might indicate gout. This is a very painful type of arthritis and often affects the big toe.

Imaging tests

X-rays of the lower back, pelvis and joints can indicate whether you have any of the characteristic signs of reactive arthritis. X-rays can also rule out other types of arthritis.

Reactive Arthritis Treatment

The type of treatment for reactive arthritis depends on the stage of reactive arthritis.

The early stage of reactive arthritis is considered acute (early). Acute inflammation can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (often referred to as NSAIDs). These drugs suppress swelling and pain. They include naproxen (Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin (Indocin) or celecoxib (Celebrex). The exact effective dose varies from patient to patient. The risk of side effects of these drugs, such as gastrointestinal (often called GI) bleeding, also varies. Your doctor will consider your risk of GI bleeding in suggesting an NSAID.

The late stage of reactive arthritis is considered chronic. Chronic reactive arthritis may require treatment with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (sometimes called a DMARD) such as sulfasalazine or methotrexate. Sulfasalazine may be more useful when the reactive arthritis is triggered by a gastrointestinal (GI) infection. In some cases, very inflamed joints may benefit from corticosteroid injections (cortisone shots). In more severe cases, stronger immune lowering medications called “biologics” may be used such as Etanercept (Enbrel) or Adalimumab (Humira).

Medications

If your reactive arthritis was triggered by a bacterial infection, your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic if there is evidence of persistent infection. Which antibiotic you take depends on the bacteria that are present.

Other medications might include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Prescription NSAIDs, such as indomethacin (Indocin), can relieve the inflammation and pain of reactive arthritis.
  • Corticosteroids: Injection of a corticosteroid into affected joints can reduce inflammation and allow you to return to your normal activity level.
  • Topical steroids: These might be used for skin rashes caused by reactive arthritis.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis drugs: Limited evidence suggests that medications such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), methotrexate (Trexall) or etanercept (Enbrel) can relieve pain and stiffness for some people with reactive arthritis.

Physical therapy

A physical therapist can provide you with targeted exercises for your joints and muscles. Strengthening exercises develop the muscles around your affected joints, which increase the joint’s support. Range-of-motion exercises can increase your joints’ flexibility and reduce stiffness.

Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is, indeed a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Specifically, aamples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Moreover, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

Additionally, all our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In particular, critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Moreover, researchers find patient’s data extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Specifically, Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Therefore, please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

  • Firstly, Peripheral whole-blood
  • Secondly, Amniotic fluid
  • Third, Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
  • Moreover, Sputum
  • Furthermore, Pleural effusion
  • Next, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Also, Serum (sera)
  • Likewise, Plasma
  • In addition, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
  • For example, Saliva
  • Also, Buffy coat
  • Moreover, Urine
  • Furthermore, stool samples
  • Next, Aqueous humor
  • Likewise, Vitreous humor
  • Lastly, Kidney stones (renal calculi)
  • Finally, Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human bio-specimens, furthermore; we offer special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. Additionally you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

 

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