The role of female hormonal factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
RA is the most common chronic systemic autoimmune disease, with a higher prevalence in women, suggesting female hormonal factors play a role in the development of the disease. However, many controversies still exist. The aim of this review was to appraise data from recent research concerning female hormonal factors and their association with RA disease development. The study of female hormonal factors is challenging because serum levels may differ throughout a woman's lifetime and interact with various environmental, immunological, genetic and endocrine factors influencing the development of autoimmunity. As some female hormonal factors may be potentially modifiable, understanding their impact on RA development is clinically relevant and may result in specific preventive interventions in high-risk populations.
3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties.
Deshiré
D
Alpízar-Rodríguez
Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Nicola
N
Pluchino
Department of Research affairs, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Geraldine
G
Canny
3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties.
Cem
C
Gabay
3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties.
Axel
A
Finckh
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D011374:Progesterone
female hormonal factors; reproductive factors; rheumatoid arthritis; risk factors; women’s health