The Rheumatoid Arthritis Society is a support group for patients with the rheumatoid arthritis. Misconceptions about the disease and the desire for a rapid cure may lead the patient to seek unproven therapy, resulting in delay in appropriate treatment. Drug treatment is also not without its potential toxicity and patients may not comply with the treatment if they are not warned of the possible side effects. Thus there is a need to educate the patients about their disease. As would be expected, some patients and their families will require a great amount of support to cope with the disease. It is for the above reasons that our society was formed, to provide a support group for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Our members comprise mainly of patients, their family members, doctors, therapists and well wishers.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Research in rhelimatoid arthritis continues to enhance our knowledge of the disease and new therapies are constantly being developed to treat the condition. Recently, the Federal Drug Administration of the United States approved the use of a new drug called Enbrel for treating rheurnatoid arthritis. Enbrel is a Genetically engineered medication that works by inhibiting an immune system protein called tumor necrosis factor which plays a role in the rheurnatoid inflammation. It has been used for patients with severe disease and they show signifcant improvement after six months of treatment, However, Enbrel does not cure rheurnatoid arthritis and repeated courses may be necessary to control the disease. It needs to be given by injection and and the cost of the drug is very high. At present, Enbrel is not available in Singapore.

Another group of drugs that were developed for treating arthritis are the newer anti-inflammatory drugs called COX2 inhibitors. COX (short form for cyclooxygenase) is an enzyme that is involved in the inflammation process. There are two COX enzymes, l and 2, It is thought that the side effects of the anti-inflarnmatory drugs, namely the gastrointestinal problems, arc due to the effect of the drugs on COX 1. Therefore, by blocking the COX2 enzyme alone, the newer anti-inflammatory drugs are supposed to have less toxic effects. Currently, studies are being done to see if these new drugs are effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Presently, there is one selective COX2 inhibitor called Meloxicam that is available in Singapore.

With the current economic crisis, some patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be affected financially. The good news is that with effect from January 1999, our society has started a welfare fund to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have problems coping with the cost of treatment, We hope that the small allowance given will at least provide some relief for those in need,

On behalf of the Management commitnee, l would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year, and we look forward to your continued involvement in our society's activities.

Dr Koh Wei Howe
President
Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (Singapore)

RHEMATOID ARTHRITIS SOCIETY (SINGAPORE) MEETING

DATE: SATURDAY, 6 February 1999
TIME : 2.00PM – 4.30PM
VENUE: Training & Education Centre Tan Tock Seng Hospital
(near the Accident & Emergency department).
Mandarin translation is provided.

Admission is free for members of the Rheumatoid Arthritis SocietY.
For non-mernbers, the registration fee is $5.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SOCIETY (SINGAPORE) MEETING
- AN EVENING WITH THE EXPERTS CUM DINNER (CO-ORGANISED WITH
SINGAPORE ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS CLUB)

Date: Saturday, 23 January 1999
Time: 5.30pm - 9.00pm
Venue: Staff Recreation Centre, Mandalay Road, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Programme

Please send crossed cheque payable to Rheumatoid Arthritis Society(Singapore) to Towner Post office, PO Box 1578, Singapore 913240 before 17 January 1999.

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