Offspring Of Parents With RA May Face Increased Risk For Many Long-Term Morbidities.

reports that research suggests that “the offspring of parents with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for many long-term morbidities, and particularly autoimmune diseases.” Investigators found that “among children whose mothers had RA, the hazard ratios were 3.30 (2.71-4.03) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 1.37 (95% CI 1.12-1.66) for type 1 diabetes, and 1.28 (95% CI 1.20-1.36) for asthma.” Meanwhile, among “those whose fathers had RA, the hazard ratios were 2.97 (95% CI 2.20-4.01), 1.44 (95% CI 1.09-1.90), and 1.15 (95% CI 1.04-1.26), respectively.” The findings were published online in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Potential explanations for this heightened risk for disease in the offspring include genetic factors or fetal programming, a concept suggesting that intrauterine exposures can have health effects later in life, as well as RA treatments. However, little is known about the long-term effects of parental RA, and these potentially influential factors have not been fully explored. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/55462