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Female gender and genetic factors are the most common known risk factors for Rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, there are certain environmental factors that increase the risk of developing this disease, including cigarette smoking and high body mass index.

While women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, men tend to be more severely affected by the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the joints. It is a progressive disease that can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function, and disability.

RA is also a systemic disease, which means it can affect other organs in the body including the skin, heart, lungs, eyes, and muscles.

RA is thought to affect approximately 2.1 million Americans, or 1% of the US population. In Asia the prevalence is similar. About 60% of RA patients are unable to work 10 years after the onset of disease. RA can affect anyone, including children, but 70% of people with RA are women. Onset usually occurs between 30 and 50 years of age.

Genetic variants are known to increase the risk of developing Rheumatoid arthritis; a variant in or near the HLA-DRB1 gene on chromosome 6p, the PTPN22 gene on chromosome 1, the STAT4 gene on chromosome 2, the IL23 gene on chromosome 4, the TRAF1-C5 gene on chromosome 9, the OLIG3-TNFAIP3 gene region on chromosome 6q and in the PADI4 gene on chromosome 1. Of these the HLA-DRB gene contributes by far the strongest effect to the risk of developing Rheumatoid arthritis. The PADI4 gene contributes to the risk of RA in East Asians but not people of European descent.

The deCODEme Complete Scan identifies variants in six out of the seven genes listed above and provides interpretation of their associated risk for the development of RA in customers of northern European descent. In East Asians, the deCODEme Complete Scan currently provides risk assessments for two out of the seven variants; the STAT4 and PADI4 genes. Currently no data are available for people of other ethnicities for the variants listed above.

risk factors

Gender and genetic factors are the most common known risk factors for RA. In addition, there are certain environmental factors that increase the risk of developing RA, including cigarette smoking and high body mass index (BMI).

• Gender: Women develop RA two to three times more often than men and their RA symptoms typically improve during pregnancy. Women develop RA more often than expected in the year after pregnancy and symptoms can increase after the baby is born. While women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, men tend to be more severely affected by the disease.
• Genetics: Family history of RA is a known risk factor and studies have shown that genes contribute to the risk of RA. There is an increased risk among siblings of RA patients as well as among more distantly related individuals (cousins).

prevention and treatment

There is no known way to prevent RA other than a healthy lifestyle, which seems to reduce the risk of developing the disease. Healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintaining an ideal weight are highly recommended. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of developing RA. If you are a smoker, the increased risk of developing RA gives you another reason to quit.

While currently there is no effective cure, RA can be controlled through the use of new drugs, exercise, joint protection techniques, and self-management techniques. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, stop or slow joint damage, improve general functioning, and improve the sense of well-being.

Researchers continue to work on new ways to treat RA – see the Arthritis Foundation’s research update for information on the latest advances made in studies of arthritis.

more information

You can find out more information about RA by talking with your doctor and visiting these Web sites:
The Arthritis Foundation
American College of Rheumatology
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Wikipedia Article on Rheumatoid Arthritis

This content was last reviewed on February 08, 2010.

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