Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
12
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-1-29
pubmed:abstractText
There have been conflicting reports on, and no plausible biologic explanation for, a protective effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, we investigated aspects of behavior related to OC use that could explain the preventive effect of OC on the onset of RA. In the present case-control study, past pregnancy, age at first pregnancy, and pregnancies with adverse outcome were studied as possible risk factors for RA. Interview information on reproductive variables was obtained from 135 young adult women with confirmed definite or classic RA of recent onset, and from 378 control patients with soft tissue rheumatic disorders or osteoarthritis. All patients had at least 2 years of followup to confirm the consistency of the diagnosis. We found a decreased risk of RA in women who had been pregnant. The risk of RA in women who had ever been pregnant compared with women who had never been pregnant was 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.27-0.91). The earlier the first pregnancy, the lower the risk of RA. Pregnancy with adverse outcome (i.e., gestation less than 25 weeks) did not substantially change the risk of RA (relative risk 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.50-1.07). The protective effect of pregnancy was independent of OC use, the presence of HLA-DR4, or a family history of RA. Immune modulation by female hormonal influences could be an explanation for the results of the present study.
pubmed:keyword
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Age Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Alcohol Drinking, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Behavior, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Biology, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Control Groups, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Data Analysis, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Demographic Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Developed Countries, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Diseases--women, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Europe, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Follow-up Studies, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/IMMUNITY, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Immunologic Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/NETHERLANDS, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/PREGNANCY, MULTIPLE, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Physiology, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Population, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Population Characteristics, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Pregnancy--beneficial effects, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Reproduction, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Research Methodology, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Risk Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/SMOKING, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Studies, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Western Europe
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0004-3591
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
33
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1770-5
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:otherAbstract
PIP: There have been conflicting reports but no plausible explanation for the protective effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, the authors investigated aspects of behavior related to OS use which could explain the protective effect of OCs on RA onset. In the present case-control study, past pregnancy, age at 1st pregnancy, and pregnancies with adverse outcome were studied as possible risk factors for RA. Interview information on reproductive variables was obtained from 135 young adult women with confirmed definite or classic RA of recent onset, and from 378 control patients with soft tissue rheumatic disorders or osteoarthritis. All patients had at least 2 years of followup to confirm the consistency of the diagnosis. The authors discovered a decreased risk of RA in women who had been pregnant. The risk of RA in women who have ever been pregnant compared with those who have never been was 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.27-0.91). The earlier the 1st pregnancy, the lower the risk of RA. Pregnancy with adverse outcome (i.e., gestation 25 weeks) did not substantially change the risk of RA (relative risk 0.73, 95% CI 0.50-1.07). The protective effect of pregnancy was independent of OC use, the presence of HLA-DR4, or a family history of RA. Immune modulation by female hormonal influences could be an explanation for the results of this study.
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Pregnancy and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't