OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether physical trauma may precipitate the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: In a case-control study comparing RA out-patients with controls attending non-rheumatology out-patient clinics, 262 patients and 262 age- and sex-matched controls completed a postal questionnaire or were interviewed about any physical trauma in the 6 months before the onset of their symptoms. RESULTS: Fifty-five (21%) of the RA patients reported significant physical trauma in the 6 months before the onset of their disease, compared with only 17 (6.5%) of the controls (P<0.00001). A preceding history of physical trauma was significantly more common in RA patients who were seronegative for rheumatoid factor (P=0.03), but was not significantly associated with sex (P=0.78), age (P=0.64), a family history of RA (P=0.07) or type of occupation, defined as manual or sedentary (P=0.6). CONCLUSION: Physical trauma in the preceding 6 months is significantly associated with the onset of RA.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether physical trauma may precipitate the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: In a case-control study comparing RA out-patients with controls attending non-rheumatology out-patient clinics, 262 patients and 262 age- and sex-matched controls completed a postal questionnaire or were interviewed about any physical trauma in the 6 months before the onset of their symptoms. RESULTS: Fifty-five (21%) of the RApatients reported significant physical trauma in the 6 months before the onset of their disease, compared with only 17 (6.5%) of the controls (P<0.00001). A preceding history of physical trauma was significantly more common in RApatients who were seronegative for rheumatoid factor (P=0.03), but was not significantly associated with sex (P=0.78), age (P=0.64), a family history of RA (P=0.07) or type of occupation, defined as manual or sedentary (P=0.6). CONCLUSION: Physical trauma in the preceding 6 months is significantly associated with the onset of RA.
Authors: P Stolt; C Bengtsson; B Nordmark; S Lindblad; I Lundberg; L Klareskog; L Alfredsson Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Andre L Samson; Bosco Ho; Amanda E Au; Simone M Schoenwaelder; Mark J Smyth; Stephen P Bottomley; Oded Kleifeld; Robert L Medcalf Journal: Open Biol Date: 2016-11 Impact factor: 6.411