Study: Smoking Increases Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Men

Smoking appears to increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in men but not women, according to a study reported in the March 24 online issue of Arthritis Research and Therapy.

Researchers studied 2,625 men and women to see what effect smoking had on their chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis. According to lead researcher Eswar Krishnan, of Stanford University, smoking was only a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis in men.

The researchers also examined the levels of a rogue antibody called rheumatoid factor. This antibody is found in 80 percent of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and is thought to stimulate the body's immune system to attack the membranes around the joints.

"Smoking is associated with the production of rheumatoid factor, so it is not surprising that it should increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis," the researchers concluded. "However this study suggests that pre-menopausal women block this pathway, effectively knocking out the effect of smoking."

The authors said further research is needed on the interactions between smoking, rheumatoid arthritis and gender if the numbers of sufferers are to be reduced.

Other sources: BioMed Central