Liposomal Clodronate May Offer Benefits To Those Suffering From Certain Types Of Anemia

By Adele Madden


AIHA, otherwise known as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, is rather uncommon kind of anemia. It causes an individual's body to develop and produce antibodies that turn against the person's own red blood cells. The results in an unhealthy phenomena during which, over time, the premature and permanent destruction of these cells occurs. Liposomal clodronate is a drug that has recently captured the attention of numerous health and medical scientists and researchers, and for this reason it is currently being tested and studied as a possible AIHA treatment.

In many instances, in order to treat the aforementioned disorder successfully, surgery is necessary. Surgical procedures of of any kind can lead to complications, a fact of which most individuals are aware. This is especially true if the person is elderly or has other underlying diseases or health issues.

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.

Thankfully, today's innovative technology has provided a way for researchers to isolate the kind of agent that is necessary to correct the destruction of red blood cells that occurs in individuals with AIHA. These are antimacrophage agents, which are vitally important if the red blood cell destruction is to be stopped in patients with this type of anemia.

According to recent research, liposomally encapsulated clodronate can successfully combat the abnormal production of the antibodies that attack one's red blood cells. Additional trials were conducted to find out if these discoveries were truly as positive as the initial studies indicated.

To test the effectiveness of the aforementioned drug, studies were conducted on mice over the course of two years. Two distinctly different red blood cell antibodies were given to two groups of laboratory mice. In each case, liposomal clodronate significantly decreased the rate at which the red blood cells were destroyed. Additionally, the substance took effect very quickly, in most cases within an hour, and its benefits lasted as long as fourteen days.

Health experts and researchers are very optimistic with regard to this substance and its possible advantages for those suffering from AIHA. Numerous scientists believe that using this drug may prove as beneficial as a surgical procedure referred to as a therapeutic splenectomy. Naturally, using liposomally encapsulated clodronate is associated with less risks than any type of surgery. The drug may also be beneficial in instances where a fast response to therapy is crucial.

Additionally, therapeutic results were seen when liposomal clodronate was given to individuals for the purpose of suppressing macrophage activity. This is true in a variety of scenarios such as gene therapy, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases and organ transplants. This is why those suffering from AIHA have every reason to be optimistic regarding the development and marketing of this drug as a treatment for this destructive type of anemia. Additional research, however, is still needed to completely understand all the advantages associated with this substance.




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