Childhood tonsil removal influences inflammatory arthritis

Risk of inflammatory arthritis is increased in people who have older siblings, or their tonsils out as children, says new research in RMD Open.

The findings support the theory that childhood infections have a role in the development of ankylosing spondylitis, which is characterised by inflammation of the spine, joints, and tendons.

Genetic predisposition is believed to the leading cause of the disease, but early life environmental factors are thought to have a role too. Now data from over 5,500 Swedish people with ankylosing spondylitis highlights:

• One older sibling increases risk by 18%;
• Two or more older siblings boosts chance by 34%;
• Tonsil removal before the age of 16 years old rises risk by 36%.

The team concludes that “having older siblings and a history of tonsillectomy in childhood were independently associated with development of [ankylosing spondylitis], even after adjustment for family shared factors in a sibling comparison analysis”.

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