Jump to content
RemedySpot.com

REVIEW - RA in American Indians and Alaska Natives

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Feb;34(4):662-7.

Rheumatoid arthritis in American Indians and Alaska Natives: a review

of the literature.

Ferucci ED, Templin DW, Lanier AP.

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, USA.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An increased prevalence of rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) has been reported in several American Indian and Alaska

Native (AI/AN) populations. This article reviews the prevalence of RA

in these populations, including clinical and serologic features.

METHODS: References were taken from Medline through November 2003, in

addition to the Arctic Health Literature Database and the American

Indian and Alaska Native Health Bibliography.

RESULTS: Published articles reveal an increased prevalence of RA in

the Tlingit, Yakima, Pima, and Chippewa Indians. Clinically the

disease in these groups is often severe, with early age of onset, high

frequency of radiographic erosions, rheumatoid nodules, and positive

rheumatoid factor. Studies of HLA alleles in cases and controls have

found a high frequency of HLA DRB1*1402.

CONCLUSIONS: The increased prevalence of RA and more severe disease in

specific AI/AN populations suggest an important genetic influence on

the development of RA in AI/AN populations. A high frequency of

specific high-risk HLA alleles in these populations may account for

some of the increased risk, but other genetic factors are likely to

contribute. Environmental factors have not been studied in detail, but

may also play an important role.

RELEVANCE: Understanding the patterns and burden of disease in AI/AN

populations may contribute to understanding the etiology of RA and to

the development of preventive strategies.

PMID: 15692959

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15692959

Not an MD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...