Rheumatoid Arthritis
Who is at risk?
Approximately 1.3 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It can affect anyone, including children (see Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis), but 70 percent of people with RA are women. Onset usually occurs between 30 and 50 years of age.
RA often goes into remission in pregnant women, although symptoms tend to increase in intensity after the baby is born. RA develops more often than expected the year after giving birth. (See Pregnancy Prognosis.)
While women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, men tend to be more severely affected when they get it.
People with the genetic marker HLA-DR4 may have an increased risk of developing RA. This marker is found in white blood cells and plays a role in helping your body distinguish between its own cells and foreign invaders. (See Causes.)
