Parity influences the severity of ACPA-negative early rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study based on the Swedish EIRA material.

Background: In women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) it has been observed that during pregnancy a majority of patients experience amelioration, but after delivery a relapse of the disease is common. However, there are few studies, with diverging results, addressing the effect of parity on the severity of RA over time. Our aim was to explore the impact of parity, with stratification for anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) status as well as for onset during reproductive age or not.

High serum cholesterol predicts rheumatoid arthritis in women, but not in men: a prospective study.

Introduction: Environmental exposures, including smoking, hormone-related factors, and metabolic factors, have been implicated in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A previous study has indicated that blood lipid levels may influence the development of RA. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of serum total cholesterol and triglycerides on the risk of RA in a prospective study.

A high body mass index is associated with reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis in men, but not in women.

Objective: To investigate the impact of overweight and obesity on the risk of RA.

Methods: From two large population-based health surveys (30 447 and 33 346 participants), individuals who developed RA after inclusion were identified by linkage to four different registers and a structured review of the medical records. Matched controls were selected from the corresponding health survey database.

Association between testosterone levels and risk of future rheumatoid arthritis in men: a population-based case-control study.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less common among men than women, and sex hormones have been suggested to play a part in the pathogenesis. Lower levels of testosterone have been demonstrated in men with RA, but it is not known if these changes precede the disease.

Methods: In a nested case-control study, using information and blood samples from a population-based health survey, we identified incident cases of RA by linking the cohort to local and national RA registers.

Early menopause and severity of rheumatoid arthritis in women older than 45 years.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate whether recognized hormonal predictors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also influence the severity of RA.

Methods: One hundred thirty-four incident RA cases identified by four different local and national registers, who had participated in a community-based health survey between 1991 and 1996, were included. By a retrospective structured review of the medical records, information on the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), erosions on radiographs, rheumatoid factor (RF) status, and disability measured by using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were collected.

Early menopause is an independent predictor of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: As rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs more often in women than in men, it has been suggested that reproductive hormones may play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Methods: Between 1991 and 1996, 30 447 subjects (18 326 women) were included in a community-based health survey. Information on female hormonal changes and stress-related factors was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire.