Is Rheumatoid Arthritis hereditary?

[jenstot]

My friends paternal grandfather had rheumatoid arthritis and she was diagnosed with this disease. Do you think this was passed on to her? Was it genetic or was it the environment?

[marcigus]

Rheumatoid arthritis, more times than not, is genetic. I was diagnosed with RA 14+ years ago, at the age of 30. I am now 44. My maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, paternal grandmother all had RA. My mother has it also. If it runs in your family -- look out. It is like a death sentence.

[savvyeyty]

My friends paternal grandfather had rheumatoid arthritis and she was diagnosed with this disease. Do you think this was passed on to her? Was it genetic or was it the environment?

Nope. RA is not genetic. You'll really have it when you're old.

[savvyeyty]

Rheumatoid arthritis, more times than not, is genetic. I was diagnosed with RA 14+ years ago, at the age of 30. I am now 44. My maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, paternal grandmother all had RA. My mother has it also. If it runs in your family -- look out. It is like a death sentence.

Geez. Don't talk like that. I'm starting to have RA you know. :(

[leighdu]

Nope. RA is not genetic. You'll really have it when you're old.

I'm gonna assume this is a joke, and if it is, it's not really that funny. But in case this is what you really think, RA affects children, teens, adults, and "old" people as well. It is definitely genetic, but other factors like the environment may have something to do with it as well. There are still lots of studies being done about it.

There is age related arthritis usually osteoarthritis that comes from joint wear and tear, but that is something totally different than rheumatoid arthritis.

[savvyeyty]

I see. Sorry about that. I was serious when I said that. Because when I asked my doctor about it he said it really happens to everyone with old age unless you're really healthy and exercise regularly.

[Lousianne]

I see. Sorry about that. I was serious when I said that. Because when I asked my doctor about it he said it really happens to everyone with old age unless you're really healthy and exercise regularly.

You may change your doctor.

My sister is having it and 25 is not really old, if you ask me.

[leighdu]

You may change your doctor.

My sister is having it and 25 is not really old, if you ask me.

I agree. What kind of doctor would say that? I'd definitely question the ability of a doctor that would inform his patients that you can't get RA if you exercise and eat healthy. If that were true, there would be millions of people right now, young and old, that wouldn't be suffering with this crappy autoimmune disease called RA.

[jenstot]

I see. Sorry about that. I was serious when I said that. Because when I asked my doctor about it he said it really happens to everyone with old age unless you're really healthy and exercise regularly.

My friend have it and she's 20. I agree with lousianne. It's not uncommon to have RA when you're young. It's time you change your doctor. :)

[gwenpinay]

RA being genetic, is there a way to stop it being passed on then? I have read about couples going through gene therapy of sorts so that they could correct whatever bad genes they've got before begetting children. Is that fact or fiction?

[Heather]

My grandfather and my aunt have it and I was diagnosed with it in my mid twenties. I am afraid that my teenage daughter is even now showing signs, too.

[Mockingbird]

Oh how terrible Mia, I think more important is to not be stressed out as that can be just as dangerous as to much or to little medication. I think your right though maybe you need a second opinion from a new oncologist. I wish I had some better words of wisdom for you, I just wanted to wish you well and tell you to keep your head up, your doing the right things!

[naturelover]

I do not think so because I know very well none of nearest grandparents and also my mother and father does not have RA. But now for the past few years, my sister is suffering from occasional severe pain in the shoulder and in the arms. She is undergoing a normal treatment through her doctor. I think this is do with something else, than hereditary.

[andrew25]

Researchers had linked Rheumatoid Arthritis with a gene called autoimmune gene which increase the risk of RA to the younger generations. This gene is found in 50 to 60% of people of European descent.

[naturelover]

I had indeed checked with the doctor who is giving treatment to my sister and confirmed it is not because of any hereditary and it is only because of hormonal disorder in female to get develop of RA.

[Terrie]

Researchers had linked Rheumatoid Arthritis with a gene called autoimmune gene which increase the risk of RA to the younger generations. This gene is found in 50 to 60% of people of European descent.

I agree Andrew. RA and other autoimmune diseases are in the genes of significant number of Families. I've also read about the percentage of People from European decent, although autoimmune diseases can hit all or most ethnic groups. I've heard that these diseases can supposedly skip generations also.

Although I am a 4th generation Canadian, my Ancestors are originally from Europe. I was dxd. with Juvenile Diabetes(Type 1-an autoimmune disease) at age 3. My 2 older Brothers were dxd. at age 4. My Sister still does not have Diabetes thankfully. We knew of no Diabetics in any of our Families beforemy Brothers and I were dxd. So of course, it was a shock. None of our(my siblings or I) Children or Grandchildren have Diabetes or RA(thank God and touch wood).

My Grandfather, Great-Aunt, Dad, Brother, my Sister, my 1st Cousin, and a few other Relatives were all dxd. with severe RA. Out of those, only my Brother and I have Type 1 Diabetes.


(If a Person is dxd. with one autoimmune disease then they have a higher chance of being diagnosed with other autoimmune diseases such as Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism, etc.)

[naturelover]

RA is not hereditary. But it was proved that it because some particular gene's and some deficiency in the immune system increase the chance of Rheumatoid Arthritis being getting developed. Researches are going on to getting full relief from the pain of RA.

[Hulagirl]

I have it and my daughter has it and she was 23 when she was diagnosed. I would say it can definitely run in families. Sandy

[naturelover]

hulagirl wrote: I have it and my daughter has it and she was 23 when she was diagnosed. I would say it can definitely run in families. Sandy

I think gene's are nothing but hereditary links. When I checked with my doctor for this, he confidently told that RA does not occur because of hereditary. But your case is rising a nagging question about this.

[vickywatts]

Yes it can be hereditary.Will the grandchildren get it? Maybe/maybe not. It is possible the father did not inherit the RA from his mom (remember, he only got half of everything). If that is true, then the kids won't have it. However RA can also be triggered by environment or other malfunctions in the body.