Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sex Differences

To thoroughly investigate sex differences in Rheumatoid arthritis, a team of researchers turned to families with a history of the disease among both their female and male members. The results indicate that male sex exerts a significant influence on underlying RA mechanisms.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease marked by tissue inflammation and joint destruction, has a well established predisposition for women.

Among the adults it strikes - currently about two million in the United States - the female to male ratio is three to one.