What causes rheumatoid arthritus?

Answer 1

We are unsure of the exact mechanisms that brings about RA . However researchers feel these factors are involved.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder. That is A disorder where the immune system of the body mistakenly destroys the bodies own tissue. In the case of RA, joints and other tissues of the body are attacked by the immune system. Chemicals called cytokines are used by the immune system cells to communicate. It is thought that people with RA have too much of certain types of cytokines, including interleukin (IL) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which may be sending the messages that cause the joints to be attacked. There is a greater risk of having RA if there is a member of the family with the disease or if you are female. Some family's are genetically predisposed to RA making them more prone to the disease. Biological factors such as hormone changes, or factors such as an infection, are believed to trigger the immune system to attack the joints in people prone to RA.

Answer 2

If you have Arthritis something goes wrong with the joint(s). What goes wrong depends on what type of arthritis you have. It could be that the cartilage that line the bones of the joints is wearing away, a lack of synovial fluid which lubricates the joints, or an autoimmune condition where your body attacks the joints thinking that the cartiledge is a pathogen or infection, or a combination of these factors.

Answer 3

The cause for Rheumatoid arthritis is not known. However people that have RA have what is known to be an Autoimmune disease. This is a condition where the immune system malfunctions and starts to attack the body's own tissue, usually starting with the joints, however it is a systemic illness's, meaning it can also effect other tissue and organs of the body. This disease is not only suffered by humans.

Answer 4

Rheumatic Arthritis is an auto-immune disease.

These diseases are caused when the immune system of the body triggers an immune response against its own cells and tissues, thereby degrading and harming the body. In other words, the immune system fails to identify the body constituents as 'self', and rather identifies them as 'foreign'; triggering an immune response against them and attacking them.

Other examples are - Lupus, Crohn's disease, Grave's disease, etc.