Compositions and Methods for the Systemic Treatment of Arthritis

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating arthritic joints found in patients with autoinflammation, e.g., systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, by administering at the site of inflammation a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent that reduces or blocks the bioavailability of interleukin-1β.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A composition for treating SOJIA comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more active agents adapted for delivery to a joint that reduces the inflammation of the joint affected with SOJIA, wherein the one or more active agents modifies the transcription of the interleukin-1β gene or modifies the translation of the interleukin-1β gene. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the composition reduces the fever, rash, arthritis and white blood cell count of a SOJIA patient. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising one or more modifiers of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) gene transcription or one or more modifiers of IL-1β gene translation. 
     
     
         22 . A method of monitoring a therapeutic response of SOJIA in a patient comprising the steps of monitoring the fever, rash, arthritis, white blood cell count and the sedimentation rate of white blood cells after treatment with a composition comprising one or more modifiers of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) gene transcription or one or more modifiers of IL-1β gene translation. 
     
     
         23 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising monitoring the fever, rash, arthritis, white blood cell count and the sedimentation rate of white blood cells after treatment using the composition.