Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

Age- Rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone including children (known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). However, it usually occurs between 30-50 years of age.

Sex- Women are affected more than men in the ratio of 3:1, and it goes into remission when they are pregnant. Symptoms increase after a baby is born.

Tissue type- Tissue type is another underlying factor, in which people with Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) DR4 are 7 times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than others.

Heredity- Relatives of people with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to develop the disease than others.

Infections- People affected with infectious diseases like diphtheria, measles etc. have an increased risk of developing the disease.

Published on Nov 22, 2014
Last Updated on Nov 26, 2019

tigersue51 Saturday, January 28, 2017

Hi what is the generic pill for methotrexate?

kiel888 Wednesday, July 15, 2015

I have RA,and the causes are the food I eat,when I work so hard and tired and then accidentally. i washed my hands with cold water.

Don't eat all kinds of beans, peanuts, vegetables with high uric acid like cabbage and fish with so much blood...red meats...

raksha22 Saturday, July 6, 2013

my name is raksha thaker I suffering from Rhematoid Artritis since ten years guide me

Diwata Sunday, July 10, 2011

I'm 39 yrs. old now, but I started feeling pain in my joints [knees and ankles] when I was very young. As I grow older, the swelling includes my fingers and wrest. When I was in college, my joints in ankles, knees, wrest and finger were inflamed. I can't even walk and use the toilet by myself. My parents could not send me to a doctor because medication is not included in the budget and is very expensive. When I start working, its my neck that is inflamed. Finally I had the chance to see a doctor. It was seen in my x-ray that I had spurs in my cervical spine 3,4 and 5, that's why my hands sometimes are weak and numb. 4 yrs ago, my doctor asked me to undergo MRI, but until now I did not do it because it cost a lot. thanks to this website, I learn more about my condition.

imranphysio99 Thursday, April 25, 2013

why did u nt gone to rhematic department of kolkata medical college,one of the best hospital for rheumatism disease. imran