Liposomal Clodronate May Be A Beneficial Blood Disorder Treatment

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 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 who have disorders of the immune system are typically not good candidates for surgery. Additionally, those who are on certain medications may have a high risk for complications following surgical procedures. These are some of the reasons that research concerning AIHA is focused on discovering new medications for the disorder, rather than more surgical alternatives.

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.

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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