Genes And Smoking Play Role In Rheumatoid Arthritis

Recent genetic studies have revealed several new sites of genes that are risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis. The strongest association with anti-citrullinated protein antibody-positive RA (ACPAs are autoantibodies detected in RA that are used as a major diagnostic tool) has been found for the HLA-DRB1 gene, and this site seems to play a central role in susceptibility to the disease in Caucasian populations.

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