Pain levels are higher for relatives of people with rheumatoid arthritis
First degree relatives of people with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to have rheumatic regional pain syndromes than those whose relatives don’t have rheumatoid arthritis, scientist outline in Clinical Rheumatology.
Previous research has found that first-degree relatives of people with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk for the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Before arthritis develops, however, it is thought that nonspecific musculoskeletal issues may occur. Scientists therefore measured levels of rheumatic biomarkers of 335 parents, offspring and siblings of people with rheumatoid arthritis and asked them to complete a questionnaire. Key findings included:
- 41% had at least one rheumatic regional pain syndrome;
- 22% rotator cuff tendinitis;
- 15% swelling of the knee joint (pes anserine bursitis);
- 12% tennis elbow
- 7% rheumatoid arthritis;
- 9% undifferentiated arthritis;
- 31% inflammatory joint pain.
Blood test measures of levels of rheumatoid factors in the blood were high in many of the first degree relatives too.
“The presence of rheumatic regional pain syndrome was higher in this rheumatoid arthritis first degree relative group compared to general population,” the scientists outline. “Clinical evaluation of this risk group should include screening for rheumatic regional pain syndromes.”
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