Causes of Rheumatic conditions
Cause details for Rheumatic conditions: The causes of rheumatic diseases vary depending on the type of disease. Researchers have pinpointed the cause or causes of some rheumatic diseases, such as infectious arthritis and gout.
The causes of most rheumatic diseases are still under investigation. In osteoarthritis, excessive stress on the joint, from repeated injury or inherited cartilage weakness, may play a role. In lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma, the combination of genetic factors that determine susceptibility, the influence of certain hormones, and environmental triggers are believed to be important.
Scientists are also studying the risk factors that determine why some people develop rheumatic diseases and others do not. For example, being overweight increases the likelihood that a person will develop osteoarthritis. The chance of developing osteoarthritis also increases with age. Genes and family history play a role in many rheumatic diseases including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, and some others.
Certain rheumatic conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and fibromyalgia, are more common among women (see below for details). This indicates that hormones or other male-female differences play a role in the development of these conditions.1
Related information for causes of Rheumatic conditions:
Further relevant information on causes of Rheumatic conditions may be found
in the risk factors for Rheumatic conditions
and underlying causes of Rheumatic conditions.
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases: NIAMS
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