Re: Re: Patsy re: RA clusters in families

[Guest guest]

Patsy, I worked for a crop dusting service in the rice fields and pastures

of southeast Texas during the summers through high school. The only

protection we had was the flag to cover us when the sprayer went over us. I

realize that everybody reacts to things differently, but it didn't seem to

affect me in any way. My introduction to RA was a case of the flu during a

time I couldn't get to a doctor. I'm predisposed to it also, because many of

my mother's side of the family had/has it. Now my 40 year old daughter is

showing signs of RA, but is afraid to go to the doctor because she doesn't

want to know the answer.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

Re: [ ] Re: Patsy re: RA clusters in families

> Hi ,

>

> I just wanted to comment on the family question regarding RA. I usually

> substitute teach here in Pasadena, CA., but last year I taught full time

> and was shocked when I met the office manager of my school. She has

> severe RA, but manages to keep working. Like me, she feels she is better

> off working since it takes her mind off her pain. She takes Plaquinil

> (sp), and Remicade, but recently had to go off Methotrexate due to liver

> problems.

>

> She has two sisters and two half sisters -- mother's side of family --

> and all of the sisters have RA also. I discussed this with my UCLA

> rheumatologist and was surprised at his thoughts on the subject. He told

> me that the current thinking is that in a case like Marilyn's family the

> cause is environmental. Have you heard this before. Most of us in my

> clinic do not have others in the family who suffer from RA.

>

> I have always felt that my RA was related to chemicals I have been

> around, which included being drenched in chemicals from a crop duster at

> one point. I have met others at my clinic who worked exclusively with

> chemicals and feel the same way.

>

> Your comments please!

>

> Patsy

[Guest guest]

Patsy,

I'm not sure exactly what your rheumatologist said or means by that, but

there's no doubt that environment plays a large role in the development of

RA.

I do believe, as much research shows, that there is a genetic

predisposition. Then, in genetically susceptible individuals, a combination

of environmental factors (for example, an infectious agent, exposure to

chemicals, bearing children, smoking, a serious accident, or emotional

trauma) and the body's response to them leads to the emergence of RA.

Many people with RA look at their family history and, because they don't

know of anyone related to them who has RA, decide that it can't be genetic.

I disagree. I think the genes have to be there first, then one or more (my

hunch is several) environmental assaults occur, then you develop RA. The

lone person with RA may be the only one in the family to have the unlucky

genetic and environmental convergence that they did.

If RA were primarily a genetic disease, then the concordance rate in

identical twins wouldn't be so low. But if your twin or siblings have RA,

your chances of developing RA are much higher than the chances of those in

the general population.

I hope researchers crack this nut soon!

Not an MD

Re: [ ] Re: Patsy re: RA clusters in families

> Hi ,

>

> I just wanted to comment on the family question regarding RA. I usually

> substitute teach here in Pasadena, CA., but last year I taught full time

> and was shocked when I met the office manager of my school. She has

> severe RA, but manages to keep working. Like me, she feels she is better

> off working since it takes her mind off her pain. She takes Plaquinil

> (sp), and Remicade, but recently had to go off Methotrexate due to liver

> problems.

>

> She has two sisters and two half sisters -- mother's side of family --

> and all of the sisters have RA also. I discussed this with my UCLA

> rheumatologist and was surprised at his thoughts on the subject. He told

> me that the current thinking is that in a case like Marilyn's family the

> cause is environmental. Have you heard this before. Most of us in my

> clinic do not have others in the family who suffer from RA.

>

> I have always felt that my RA was related to chemicals I have been

> around, which included being drenched in chemicals from a crop duster at

> one point. I have met others at my clinic who worked exclusively with

> chemicals and feel the same way.

>

> Your comments please!

>

> Patsy

[Guest guest]

I agree that there must be a genetic connection somewhere. They seem to run

rampant in my family, including over generations (my great-great-gradmother,

who died 15 years before I was born had psoriasis, so do two of my children)

and cousins who have never lived near each other. My sister has RA and

Reynauds, we haven't lived close to each other since I was 18. Of our

children, 3 of the six have auto immune disorders, two of mine and 1 of

hers. My rheumy also thinks that a there may be a genetic predisposition to

auto immune disorders and that some stress, either physical or emotional -

or both - triggers the disorder. In my case, the stress was a major auto

accident. For my son, his stress was a severe sunburn. Not sure what my

daughter's was, but she also has severe asthma. We didn't know what her

psoriasis was for a couple of years, her PCP thought it was a fungus until

she finally had a biopsy done, but she had a pretty stressful time in high

school. All three of my kids have asthma, so does my husband and his

brother. Theirs was probably brought on by their parents' smoking, but none

of my kids has ever been around smokers except maybe an occasional elevator

ride. I'm a real fanatic about that.

On 1/11/07, <Matsumura_Clan@...> wrote:

>

> Patsy,

>

> I'm not sure exactly what your rheumatologist said or means by that, but

> there's no doubt that environment plays a large role in the development of

> RA.

>

> I do believe, as much research shows, that there is a genetic

> predisposition. Then, in genetically susceptible individuals, a

> combination

> of environmental factors (for example, an infectious agent, exposure to

> chemicals, bearing children, smoking, a serious accident, or emotional

> trauma) and the body's response to them leads to the emergence of RA.

>

> Many people with RA look at their family history and, because they don't

> know of anyone related to them who has RA, decide that it can't be

> genetic.

> I disagree. I think the genes have to be there first, then one or more (my

> hunch is several) environmental assaults occur, then you develop RA. The

> lone person with RA may be the only one in the family to have the unlucky

> genetic and environmental convergence that they did.

>

> If RA were primarily a genetic disease, then the concordance rate in

> identical twins wouldn't be so low. But if your twin or siblings have RA,

> your chances of developing RA are much higher than the chances of those in

> the general population.

>

> I hope researchers crack this nut soon!

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

>

>

--

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South Pasadena, CA

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