title: Tobacco and other environmental risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Many environmental factors have been associated with an increased risk of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), but so far smoking is the only environmental risk factor that has been extensively studied and widely accepted. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing seropositive RA (RF and/or ACPA). Recent studies show that tobacco smoking can influence disease phenotype, with the development of more aggressive disease and greater joint damage; but other studies show contradictory results. Recent data suggests that response to antirheumatic therapy in RA is worse in smokers. In this article we review different environmental factors that have been associated with an increased risk of developing RA, with a special interest in tobacco smoking.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Artritis, Servicio de Reumatologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. vruizesquide@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Esquide
authors.forename: Raimon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanmartí
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012822:Silicon Dioxide