Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and joint damage. It can also affect other organs. Treatment includes medications to reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, and slow disease progression, along with physical therapy and lifestyle modifications. The assessment of the Polygenic Risk Score for rheumatoid arthritis is based on the examination of 73 gene polymorphisms.
Genetic testing for rheumatoid arthritis is included along with 12 other diseases in the Genetic Screening for Immune Diseases, Polygenic Risk Score, as well as in the Genetic Screening for Musculoskeletal Diseases, Polygenic Risk Score, along with 11 other diseases.
Causes and non-genetic risk factors
The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unknown, although the complex contribution of genetics and environmental factors, such as certain viral infections or hormones, has been proposed. Even the intestinal microbiome has been implicated in its development.
The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis is about 1% in the general population, although it is more frequent in women than in men. Among the non-genetic risk factors that may contribute to the development of the disease are:
- Age: it can appear at any age, but the incidence increases with age
- Sex: it is 2-3 times more frequent in women than in men
- Smoking: Smokers have a higher risk of developing the disease
- Obesity
Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of joint mobility, especially in the hands, feet, wrists, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Occasionally, it can cause fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite. These symptoms may be constant or come and go, with active periods (flares) and others of relative remission.
About 40% of affected individuals have symptoms involving other systems, such as the skin, eyes, lungs, kidneys, etc.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most disabling of the rheumatic diseases.
Prevention
Because it is a disease of unknown origin, there is no sure way to prevent rheumatoid arthritis. However, some actions could help to have a better management of the pathology, such as:
- Lead a healthy lifestyle with moderate physical activity and healthy eating
- Avoid activities that require heavy physical effort, such as standing for long hours or avoiding bending the back and neck for hours at a time
- Reduce body weight if you are overweight
- Avoid consumption of toxic substances such as tobacco
