title: Evidence for an association between rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune endocrine disease.
abstract: Evidence is presented for the first time of a significantly increased prevalence of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in the close relatives of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty-nine (13%) of 295 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis had a first or second degree relative with type 1 diabetes and 38 (13%) had a close relative with autoimmune thyroid disease. These findings could be compatible with a possible common genetically determined mechanism of susceptibility to both diseases.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010375:Pedigree; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies