Breast feeding, but not use of oral contraceptives, is associated with a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Pikwer, Mitra; Bergström, Ulf; Nilsson, Jan‐Åke; Jacobsson, Lennart; Berglund, Göran; Turesson, Carl

doi:10.1136/ard.2007.084707

Cited by 159 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…93,100,101 Changes in the female hormonal environment due to menstruation or Dovepress during pregnancy, while breast feeding, and/or through the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCP), appear to have a role in RA pathogenesis. 100,102 Increased breast feeding duration is protective for RA development, while the literature evaluating OCP use and parity is inconsistent, demonstrating protection in some studies and no associated risks in others. [101][102][103] The female systemic immune system is considered by some investigators to be more "reactive" than those of men.…”

Section: Linkagementioning

confidence: 99%

“…100,102 Increased breast feeding duration is protective for RA development, while the literature evaluating OCP use and parity is inconsistent, demonstrating protection in some studies and no associated risks in others. [101][102][103] The female systemic immune system is considered by some investigators to be more "reactive" than those of men. 100 This contention is supported by observations demonstrating higher immunoglobulin concentrations, enhanced cytokine production, greater resistance to infections, and stronger T cell responses in women, along with other characteristics not mentioned.…”

Section: Linkagementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Rheumatoid arthritis: Disease or syndrome?

Stanich

Carter

Whittum-Hudson

et al. 2009

OARRR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been described in the medical literature for over two hundred years, but its etiology remains unknown. RA displays phenotypic heterogeneity, and it is a relatively prevalent clinical entity: it affects approximately 1% of the population, resulting in enormous pathologic sequelae. Earlier studies targeting the cause(s) of RA suggested potential infectious involvement, whereas more recent reports have focused on a genetic origin of the disease. However, neither infection nor genetics, nor any other single factor is currently accepted as causative of RA. In this article we review studies relating to the etiology of RA, and those of several related matters, and we conclude that the literature indeed does provide insight into the causes underlying the initiation of RA pathogenesis. Briefly, given the remarkable phenotypic variation of RA, especially in its early stages, as well as a number of other characteristics of the condition, we contend that RA is not a discrete clinical entity with a single etiological source. Rather, we argue that it represents a common clinical endpoint for various starting points, each of which is largely guided by as yet poorly understood aspects of the genetic background of the affected individual. Adoption of this alternative view of the origin of RA will have significant consequences for future research and for development of new therapeutic interventions for this burdensome condition.

show abstract

Section: Linkagementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Linkagementioning

confidence: 99%

Rheumatoid arthritis: Disease or syndrome?

Stanich

Carter

Whittum-Hudson

et al. 2009

OARRR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some studies suggested that the use of OCs is protective (18)(19)(20)(21). However, several studies have met no significance to demonstrate this association (22)(23)(24).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis Development Among Females in North-West of Iran: A Case-Control Study

Shishavan

Pirouzpanah

Hajialilo

et al. 2016

Iran Red Crescent Med J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Given the high prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in females of reproductive ages, it seems that hormonal factors might be important in RA pathogenesis. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the association between females' reproductive factors occurring prior to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of RA development. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 231 patients with RA and 238 controls among females aged 26 -64 years old from the North-West of Iran. The adjusted risk of RA was assessed using multivariate logistic regression models.

show abstract

“…[42][43][44][45][46] The majority of studies have found that past or current use of COCs has a protective effect against RA development. 47 In a recent case-control study, Berglin et al 48 reported a decreased risk for development of RA in women who had been using COCs for 7 years or more (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15-0.93). In the Norfolk Arthritis Register, which is a primary care-based cohort of patients with recentonset inflammatory polyarthritis, it was found that COC users have a better functional outcome than nonusers.…”

Section: Rheumatoid Arthritismentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-contraceptive benefits of oral contraceptives

Dhont¹

2011

OAJC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The health benefits of the oral contraceptive (OC) pill are numerous and outweigh the risks of OC use. There are unintended but useful preventive side effects and potential therapeutic uses of OCs apart from contraception itself. Unequivocal evidence for the protective influence of combined OCs against ovarian and endometrial cancers, and colon cancer to a lesser extent, has been found. The pill also reduces the incidence of benign breast disease, functional ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease requiring hospitalization, ectopic pregnancy, and irondeficiency anemia. The pill can be used for the treatment of several gynecologic disorders such as dysmenorrhea, irregular or excessive bleeding, acne, hirsutism, and endometriosis-associated pain, whether prescribed solely to treat these symptoms or prescribed to treat them in addition to providing contraception. These health benefits are often underestimated, as they get too little attention from the mass media.

show abstract

Breast feeding, but not use of oral contraceptives, is associated with a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract: In this study, long-term breast feeding, but not OC use, was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of RA.

Cited by 159 publications

References 45 publications

Rheumatoid arthritis: Disease or syndrome?

Rheumatoid arthritis: Disease or syndrome?

Risk Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis Development Among Females in North-West of Iran: A Case-Control Study

Non-contraceptive benefits of oral contraceptives

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About