Early Menopause Associated With Milder Form of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new study presented at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, revealed that early menopause may predict a milder form of rheumatoid arthritis. The results were derived from 134 cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients over 45 years old with a history of early menopause were 50% less likely to develop severe rheumatoid arthritis (16% vs. 35%) and more likely to develop a mild to moderate type which was negative for rheumatoid factor (58% vs. 20%).

Oral contraceptive use or history of breastfeeding did not seem to impact severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers concluded that hormonal changes may influence pathways to rheumatoid arthritis other than those related to severe forms of the disease.

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