Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOsteoarthritisRheumatoid ArthritisPsoriatic ArthritisAnkylosing SpondylitisGoutWhen To See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Gout
When To See a Healthcare Provider
It’s hard to give a simple answer to the question of whether arthritis is hereditary. Arthritis is a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases that involve joint pain andinflammation.
Each type has different causes and risk factors. While many types carry a genetic component, genetics alone doesn’t lead to the disease.
This article will look at the role of heredity in five common arthritis types, help you identify your personal risk factors, and explore treatments and preventive measures.
Osteoarthritis(OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It affects more than 32.5 million American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms
OA is sometimes called ‘wear-and-tear’ arthritis because it develops as the cartilage between joints breaks down. That leads to bone rubbing against bone.This causes:
These symptoms most often strike the joints in the hands, knees, and hips.
Risk Factors
OA risk factorsinclude:
Aging is the most consistently identified risk factor for osteoarthritis, regardless of the joint.
Your sex impacts which joints are likely to be affected. In females, it’s more common in the hand and knee. In males, it’s more frequent in the hip.
Genetics
Some hereditary forms of OA stem from genetic mutations related tocollagen.However, most OA isn’t strictly an inherited disease. It likely takes genetics plus other risk factors for you to develop it.
Having family members with osteoarthritis is also known to increase your risk. Research shows that between 40% and 65% of OA has a genetic component. The percentage is higher for hand and hip cases
Studies on identical and non-identical twins have tied certain gene variations with an increased risk of developing OA. But no single gene causes osteoarthritis. Multiple genes are involved and other factors combined with them lead to OA.
Prevention and Treatment
Treatment for osteoarthritis includes lifestyle changes like:
Medications can treat OA pain and inflammation. In advanced cases, joint replacement surgery can become necessary.
How Arthritis Is Treated
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a type of autoimmune and inflammatory arthritis. It affects more than 1.5 million Americans, or about 0.6% of the population.
In this type of arthritis, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissues.This damage can lead to problems including long-lasting chronic pain, unsteadiness, and deformity.
The earliestRA symptomscan include:
Unlike OA, RA affects both sides of the body at once—for example, both hands or both knees.
Risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis include:
Certain acute (short-term) illnesses may combine with genetics to trigger RA. These include:
The exact causes of RA are unknown. Butthis type of arthritis is recognized as hereditarybecause your risk is associated with certain genes that you’re born with.
According to a comprehensive review of the genetics of RA, the heritability of is estimated at about 60%.
A significant portion—as much as 37%—is believed to be from genes related to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. Those are genes that are important to the immune response.
Other genes that may be involved include:
While these gene variants are associated with RA, you can have all of them and never develop the disease. So RA is not directly inherited but has a large genetic component.
Risk Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Experts don’t know how to prevent RA. However, it may help to focus on the risk factors you have some control over. That means not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and learning to manage stress.
Early detection andtreatmenthave shown promise in reducing the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on quality of life.
Medications for RA include:
Lifestyle changes—including a healthy diet and regular exercise—can help you manage symptoms, as well.
How Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Diagnosed
About 2.4 million people are estimated to havepsoriaticarthritis (PsA). Like RA, it is autoimmune and inflammatory.
PsA is believed to have less of a genetic component than RA. Even so, some genes are believed to be involved.
Symptoms of PsAinclude:
It’s common for skin and nail symptoms to appear before joint pain and swelling, but sometimes the arthritis comes first or occurs without skin involvement.The most likely joints to be involved are the:
Eventually, PsA may affect the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys, as well.
Psoriasis and Inflammation
You’re more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis if you have:
Lifestylerisk factorsand certain exposures can also contribute, including:
Medications That Can Trigger Psoriasis
Genetic differences linked to PsA mostly are related to the immune system. As with RA, many variations involve the HLA complex.
Other genes associated with this disease are believed to play small roles. Still, they’re believed to contribute to your risk of developing PsA.
The genetic component of PsA is weaker than that of some other arthritis types. Evidence for this is an unpredictable pattern of inheritance. Even so, 40% of people with PsA have at least one close family member with PsA or psoriasis.
So far, there’s no cure for PsA and no known way to prevent it. However, focusing on lifestyle risk factors may help you prevent or delay it.
It might also help you manage symptoms once you have PsA. That means:
Commontreatmentsfor psoriatic arthritis include:
Ankylosing spondylitis(AS) is a less common form of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory arthritis. It affects just under 1% of the population.
It is not a purely genetic disease, but heritability is a significant contributing factor.It’s possible for more than one family member to have AS.
AS causes back and hip pain and stiffness and eventually leads to vertebrae in your spine fusing together. That fusion is called ankylosis.
AS’s main target is the sacroiliac (SI) joints at the base of your spine.Symptomsinclude:
In advanced cases, people with AS may develop:
AS risk factors include:
The HLA-B27 gene variant (a protein associated with the immune system) has been found in 95% of people with ankylosing spondylitis.
However, more than 60 genes are believed to be associated with the condition. Most are related to the immune system and inflammation.
The frequency ofinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)in people with AS suggests a common genetic cause.
So far, researchers haven’t uncovered a way to prevent AS. Most AS risk factors can’t be controlled. However, safeguarding your digestive health and protecting your joints from stress and injury may help.
AS is treatedwith:
Lifestyle changes that may help include:
In hyperuricemia, the body produces more uric acid than your kidneys can handle. That leads to the build-up of crystals in your joints. These crystals are long, thin, and needle-sharp.
An estimated 4% of American adults—or about 8.3 million people—are believed to have gout.Genetics plays a major role in who develops it.
Gout attacks are sudden and cause severe pain and inflammation. The pain is often compared to a broken bone, a severe burn, or being stabbed. While it can strike other joints, it’s most common in the big toe.
Gout symptomsinclude:
Gout can strike frequently or may only crop up once every few years. Untreated gout tends to have worse and more frequent attacks.
Susceptibility to this type of arthritis is hereditary. Genetics aren’t the only factor, though.Risk factorsinclude:
Purine-rich foods include:
Purine in VegetablesSome vegetables and dairy products are rich in purines but are not linked to gout attacks. You don’t need to avoid these foods to manage your gout.
Purine in Vegetables
Some vegetables and dairy products are rich in purines but are not linked to gout attacks. You don’t need to avoid these foods to manage your gout.
Research has linked multiple genetic variants to gout. That includes 28 different variants that deal specifically with uric acid.
As with other forms of arthritis, some HLA genes are also implicated. Another key genetic difference affects the response to drugs that block the formation of uric acid. This can affect how people respond to gout treatment.
Some researchers predict that genetic research will pave the way for personally tailored gout treatments and lifestyle management strategies.
Treatment and Prevention
Much oftreating goutis about preventing future flares. During a flare, the focus is on pain management using anti-inflammatories, including the drug colchicine.
For frequent or chronic gout, some healthcare providers prescribe:
Toprevent gout attacks, it may help to:
You should also work to manage any overlapping conditions that increase your risk of gout.
Foods to Avoid With Gout
Always let your healthcare provider know if you have a family history of arthritis or autoimmune disease. Watch for early warning signs such as:
It’s normal to occasionally experience these symptoms. However, it warrants a medical appointment when pain:
Should You Consider Genetic Testing?A genetic test can indicate or rule out certain genetic markers for arthritis, but it can’t determine for sure whether you will develop one or more of the 100 types of arthritis.
Should You Consider Genetic Testing?
A genetic test can indicate or rule out certain genetic markers for arthritis, but it can’t determine for sure whether you will develop one or more of the 100 types of arthritis.
Summary
Researchers believe a genetic predisposition combines with lifestyle factors and sometimes other health conditions in order to trigger arthritis. The HLA genes are associated with many types of arthritis, as are genes related to inflammation.
A Word From Verywell
Even if you have a genetic predisposition to developing arthritis or other rheumatic diseases, you can take action to reduce your risk and disease severity.
Early detection and treatment can play a positive role on your overall outcome. And remember that a generally healthy lifestyle may be helpful, as well.
How Genetic Disorders Are Inherited
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