The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis
Leiden University Medical Center · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a heterogeneous disease, which can be, based on data combining genetic risk factors and autoantibodies, sub-classified into ACPA-positive and -negative RA. Presence of ACPA and RF as well as rising CRP-levels in some patients years before onset of clinical symptoms indicate that relevant immune responses for RA development are initiated very early. ACPA are highly specific for RA, whereas RF can also be found among healthy (elderly) individuals and patients with other autoimmune diseases or infection. The most important genetic risk factor for RA development, the shared epitope alleles, resides in the MHC class II region. Shared epitope alleles, however, only predispose to the…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 72.37
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 203
Authors
3Topics & keywords
- Immunology
- Medicine
- Immune system
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoantibody
- Synovitis
- Disease
- Rheumatoid factor
- Good health and well-being
Funding
- ECEuropean CommissionAwards: LSHB-CT-2006-018861, 115142, 115142-2
- DFDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftAwards: 115142, 399561834, SFB 650
- ZZonMwAwards: 90714509, 91617107, 435002030
- BFBundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungAward: 01EC1009A
- NONederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk OnderzoekAwards: 90714509, 435002030, 91617107
- RReumaNederlandAwards: 15-2-402, 18-1-205
- DADutch Arthritis AssociationAwards: 15-2-402, 18-1-205, 15-2-402 and 18-1-205