Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes and Risk Factors

Rheumatoid Arthritis

    * Introduction
    * Signs and symptoms
    * Causes and Risk Factors
    * Evolution and complications
    * Diagnosis
    * Treatment

Causes and Risk Factors
Despite research in the field of rheumatoid arthritis causes are not well known and many factors are involved: environmental (especially smoking), genetic (HLA-DR gene 4), hormones (hormonal variations), biological (infection), metabolic nutritional, geographical, occupational, - all these factors influence the disease manifestations, but not its frequency.
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease because the body's immune system produces antibodies that attack their own joints.
It was suggested and an infectious etiology: some experts believe that rheumatoid arthritis occurs after penetration into the body of an infectious agent in individuals with genetic predisposition to RA. According to them, rheumatoid arthritis triggering microbes responsible for mycoplasma, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus, cytomegalovirus or rubella virus.
Another explanation is the occurrence of inflammation as a result of penetration of the infectious agent within the joints, especially in the synovial membrane. This triggers an immune response - immune system acts against infectious agents, resulting in a deterioration of the joint anatomy.
Risk Factors
- Female - rheumatoid arthritis incidence is 2-3 times higher in women than in men - Family history - about 10% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have at least one first-degree relative affected by this disease - Genetic factors: HLA-DR gene 4 - peculiarities of this gene have been associated with a predisposition for rheumatoid arthritis. Other genes may play a protective role against the gene, are studied for their identification - Hormonal factors - pregnancy - Smoking - smoking a long time increases your risk of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, with symptoms worse than usual - Obesity - slightly increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, after onset, obesity is an aggravating factor.