New marker offers hope for arthritis sufferers

Washington: A team of researchers has discovered a new marker of arthritis in mice.

According to the University of California San Diego study, the marker can be used non-invasively to both identify joints with established arthritis and to predict subsequent joint swelling.

The investigators noted that imaging tests with the marker, called Ratiometric thrombin-Activatable Cell Penetrating Peptide, might help clinicians monitor the development and progression of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

"This new imaging tool should allow researchers to localize very early events in arthritis to enable translational advances," said senior author Maripat Corr.

The finding is published in journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.