What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

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

" We know there's a genetic basis -- we also know that it runs in families and so. If someone has root for our friends it's very likely your comment to someone else and we will have -- arthritis or sometimes. Another autoimmune disease."

" Researchers have identified specific genetic markers involved in immune function."

" Which the disease stability -- the region can be found. And we don't eat it patients are at higher risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis if they have such a disease assistant attorney mark."

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

" The patient has the right timing of their immune system. And then the right set of outside forces. Come to play. This might be an infection that we haven't identified it may be outside. Environmental triggers that we don't yet understand."

" What happens is there's a confluence. Of these things that all come together."

" At the wrong time for the particular patient. They begin to activate the immune system. "

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

" The best analogy would be to think about. Get cut understand if you get a car and her skin and -- gets infected they can't read it gets swollen and what's happening there is your immune system is bringing. All sorts of inflammatory types of cells into that area to help get rid of the infection. And lung infection cleared either on its owner went public and about it. Those cells tend to go away and the swelling and redness sort of heels. That we can't find. And it never goes away and so it's not as -- heels of that the information keeps going it stays there and that sets the whole -- emotions become its arthritis. Proteins called cited kinds drive the process there's -- a kind called interleukin one. And there's another senate and called two articles Spector worked him -- And their me myself and Detroit picked up by other cells and they seem to be. An important factor in continuing inflammatory -- and so when we look at people from its arthritis. We see higher levels of these sites and proteins. In the joint issues in the fluid in the -- and even in their outlook."

" Additionally it is -- easily recruit other inflammatory -- has -- us. The team of his accidentally lymphocytes into the tissue and try to kind -- blood vessels on. Talent act and they can ask the vessels to growing --"

" This is all seen clinically. By symptoms such as joint swelling warmth. And tenderness. This is all being driven by these chemicals while it is difficult to predict the course of the disease certain factors play a role in how severe."

" May become there are certain markers. Come markers of a lot of active inflammation. Markers and include how many joints -- involves certain -- like the rheumatoid factor or the CCP tasks that if there there. -- tell me that that person is more likely to have very aggressive disease. Come in they're not one to one so there are people who have some of these markers that are associated with they had disease. Who may not in fact end up having -- disease commonly seen those worries are more concerned about making sure we start treatment so that we prevent. What we assume are likely to be the concert."

" doctors say that regardless of the cause. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are essential we've all -- now that that's this can be devastating disease. This should be treated early. And that -- the damage has to be sensitive to accumulate in the -- is much harder to reverse. The fact we're not sure the medicines can restore the cartilage and bone but we have very good evidence now that they prevent the damage to the phone. And cartilage and that's the fundamental cause of disability new treatments are offering patients improved outcomes. We learned in the 1970s. That. The life expectancy was reduced by ten to fifteen years. From simply having rheumatoid arthritis. So. We've become much more aggressive and pissed when he first years. And I've seen for the first time during this period that we can slow the progression of the disease. Reduce disability improved function get people back to work we rarely see people wheelchairs anymore. And I think there's been a real revolution. Because of better treatments."