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What
Causes Rheumatic Disease?
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.
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