Sex hormone linked to the development of

rheumatoid arthritis

Taken from NRAS magazine, Spring 2009

Researchers in India have published their findings of work in mice showing that sex hormones play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The researchers commented that it was well known that women are significantly more likely to develop RA than men, indicating that sex hormones like oestrogen and testosterone could be important, but their role is not well understood. Hence more work is needed in this area.

In their report, the researchers suggested that oestrogen might reduce inflammation by suppressing tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) levels.