The Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Guest guest]

The Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Study examines hereditary factors in autoimmune joint disease

FRIDAY, March 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Researchers have identified several

disease features that are common among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

who are related.

A report on their findings appears in the March issue of Arthritis and

Rheumatism.

The results point to certain genetic factors that influence susceptibility

to the disease and its progression. The findings could help scientists

identify new markers for prognosis in people with RA.

Researchers studied 1,097 siblings from 512 families with multiple cases of

RA. The volunteers provided clinical and demographic information, including

whether their parents had RA.

The researchers obtained radiographs of the hands and feet of each study

subject, tested all of them for rheumatoid factor, and analyzed the subjects

against a list of disease symptoms and possible manifestations.

The study found that the presence of serum rheumatoid factors of nodules was

strongly correlated among siblings. There was also a significant sibling

correlation for age at RA diagnosis and disease severity.

Interestingly, the study found that, regardless of the total number of

brothers or sisters in these families, the number of siblings stricken with

RA was remarkably consistent -- between two and three.

This finding challenges previous findings that the number of people with RA

is higher in larger families.

" We did not observe an increase in the number of affected siblings as total

sibship [the amount of children born to a couple] size increased. The

striking difference in our results compared with those reported by

investigators in The Netherlands indicates the need for further study of

this issue, " study author Dr. Damini Jawaheer writes.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about arthritis.

[Guest guest]

Hey a!

I seem to have missed some major news here! Congratulations on your new

grandchild - is it a girl or boy?

Have you moved house?

Hugs,

Heidi

Re: [ ] The Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis

a,

Forgive me for this coming so late. Congratulations on your new grandchild,

isn't this Grandmom thing nice. Also I hope you will be very happy in your new

home. Best of luck,

Love Lynn

a wrote:

> The Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Study examines hereditary factors in autoimmune joint disease

>

> FRIDAY, March 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Researchers have identified several

> disease features that are common among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

> who are related.

>

> A report on their findings appears in the March issue of Arthritis and

> Rheumatism.

>

> The results point to certain genetic factors that influence susceptibility

> to the disease and its progression. The findings could help scientists

> identify new markers for prognosis in people with RA.

>

> Researchers studied 1,097 siblings from 512 families with multiple cases of

> RA. The volunteers provided clinical and demographic information, including

> whether their parents had RA.

>

> The researchers obtained radiographs of the hands and feet of each study

> subject, tested all of them for rheumatoid factor, and analyzed the subjects

> against a list of disease symptoms and possible manifestations.

>

> The study found that the presence of serum rheumatoid factors of nodules was

> strongly correlated among siblings. There was also a significant sibling

> correlation for age at RA diagnosis and disease severity.

>

> Interestingly, the study found that, regardless of the total number of

> brothers or sisters in these families, the number of siblings stricken with

> RA was remarkably consistent -- between two and three.

>

> This finding challenges previous findings that the number of people with RA

> is higher in larger families.

>

> " We did not observe an increase in the number of affected siblings as total

> sibship [the amount of children born to a couple] size increased. The

> striking difference in our results compared with those reported by

> investigators in The Netherlands indicates the need for further study of

> this issue, " study author Dr. Damini Jawaheer writes.

>

> More information

>

> The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about arthritis.

>

>