REVIEW - What epidemiology has told us about risk factors and aetiopathogenesis in rheumatic diseases

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Res Ther. 2009; 11(3): 223.

Published online 2009 May 19. doi: 10.1186/ar2585. PMCID: PMC2714091

What epidemiology has told us about risk factors and aetiopathogenesis

in rheumatic diseases

E Oliver1 and Alan J Silman1

1Arthritis Research Campaign, Copeman House, St 's Court, St

's Gate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 7TD, UK

Abstract

Introduction

This article will review how epidemiological studies have advanced our

knowledge of both genetic and environmental risk factors for rheumatic

diseases over the past decade. The major rheumatic diseases, including

rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic

arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus,

scleroderma, osteoarthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia, and chronic

widespread pain, will be covered. Advances discussed will include how

a number of large prospective studies have improved our knowledge of

risk factors, including diet, obesity, hormones, and smoking. The

change from small-scale association studies to genome-wide association

studies using gene chips to reveal new genetic risk factors will also

be reviewed.

**************************************************

Read the full article here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2714091/?tool=pubmed

Not an MD