What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

" Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease of the immune system. Although the exact cause unknown researchers believe that a combination of factors are involved."

" We know there's a genetic basis to it we also know that are wrong with him and so. If someone has -- arthritis very lightly your comment to someone else and their families have rheumatoid arthritis or sometimes. Another autoimmune disease."

" Researchers have identified specific genetic markers installed an immune function but let me association says LED act more hand. This is a specific genetic marker with and which the disease susceptibility regions can be found. And we don't -- it patients are at higher risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis if they have such a disease susceptibility. Margaret."

" Environmental factors also appear to be a contributing cause of the disease. These might be a particular infection periodontal disease or even smoking."

" The patient has the right Prime Minister Iranians the India and the right sat and Al side or come to play. This might be an intact and that we haven't identified it may be -- environmental triggers that we don't yet understand. What happens is there's conclude. Of these things all come together. At a wrong time that particular -- it did begin to activate the unions."

" Immunological factors also play a role. A normal immune system protects the body from bacteria and viruses. While in rheumatoid arthritis I'm misdirected immune response contributes to the disease."

" The best analogy would be to think about. Yeah getting -- understand if you get -- on your skin and gets infected he can't read it gets swollen. And what's happening there -- your immune system -- bringing all sorts of inflammatory types of cells into that area to help get rid of the infection. And an infection is clear either on its owner with the help of an antibiotic. Those -- tend to go away and the swelling and redness goes away and it he'll. In rheumatoid arthritis it's as if your joints are recruiting all of these inflammatory cells from the body into the joint despite often infection. That we can find. And it never goes away and source not as a foothills of that the inflammation keeps going to Steve's and that upsets the whole test -- emotions that become -- it's earth Friday. Proteins -- cited lines -- the process. There's -- a time called interleukin one. And there's another senate and called tumor growth factor or TNF. -- Picked up by other cells and they seem to be an important factor and continuing inflammatory prop and so when we look at people's original birthright is. We see higher levels of these senate and proteins. In the joint tissues in the fluid in the joints and even in their blood."

" Additionally this tight hold recruit other inflammatory cells such as the Atlantis thanks to -- that being them just type into the joint tissue on the -- kind also have effects on blood test holes com. Sour patch Condit can cross the blood vessels to grow into a blistering --"

" This is all seen clinical. By symptoms such as joint swelling warmth. -- This is all being written by the chemical while it is difficult to predict the course of that certain factors play a role in a severe -- becomes there are certain."

" Markers. I'm markers have a lot of active inflammation. Markers and include how many join her involves certain antibodies likes the rheumatoid factor or the CCP tests that if there there. Tell me that that person is more likely to have to regret this disease. Com and they're not one to one -- there are people who have some of these markers that are associated with they had disease. Who may not -- end up having had to he's. Humble when we see those worries -- more concerned about making sure we start treatment so that we prevent what we assume we're likely to be the concert."

" Doctors say that regardless of the cause. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are essential that we all agreement on that this can be used to -- and -- This should be treated early. And that Saddam -- to accumulate in the aren't much harder to reverse. Effect we're not sure the medicines and depth restore their car -- but we have very good evidence now that they prevent damage to the foreign. And cartilage and that's the fundamental course there's a little new treatments are offering in improved outcome. We learned in the 1970s. That. The life expectancy was produced -- ten to fifteen years. From simply having rheumatoid arthritis. So. We've become much more Chris and that's what -- frontiers. And -- for the first time during this period that we can slow the progression of the disease. Reduce disability improved function get people -- We're really see people will -- anymore. I don't think there's been a real revolution. Because it better treatments."