| There is some debate among experts about the | | | | away of the cartilage and drying of the synovial fluid |
| causes of arthritis. There are just so many different | | | | around the joint and is caused by wear and tear, but |
| types that it is hard to pinpoint what actually will cause | | | | you will find some active people are more prone than |
| this disease. However one factor comes across as a | | | | others to this disease. Scientists have discovered that |
| prevalent one when it comes to considering this issue. | | | | one of the factors affecting this is a genetic mutation |
| The one question you should ask when considering this | | | | in type II collagen that is present in some families. This |
| issue is whether arthritis is genetic? There are many | | | | leads to a faster breakdown of the joint cartilage. |
| indications to prove that genetics have a large bearing | | | | Because of these genetic factors you will find this |
| on whether a person will develop certain forms of | | | | type of arthritis running in families. |
| arthritis. There are so many types of arthritis that we | | | | Ankylosing spondylitis: this form of arthritis affects |
| cannot discuss all of them here. These are a few of | | | | people in their teens, 20's and 30's. It is a progressive |
| the common ones. | | | | disease that fuses the spine making it difficult for the |
| Rheumatoid arthritis and the HLA-DR4 gene: | | | | patient to bend or stand up straight. The TASC or |
| Research shows that the HLA-DR4 gene is one of | | | | Australo-Anglo-American Spondylitis Consortium, |
| the main factors in whether a person will develop | | | | identified genes ANTXR2 and IL1R2, IL23R and ERAP1 |
| arthritis and how severely they will suffer from the | | | | as being responsible for this type of arthritis. This |
| disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is especially affected by | | | | proves the fact that genetics also play a role in |
| this gene. This is partly due to the fact that this form of | | | | whether some people will develop this type of arthritis. |
| arthritis is linked with the malfunctioning of the immune | | | | In view of this evidence gene therapy is being |
| system. This disease will create swollen and deformed | | | | researched widely to find permanent cures for |
| joints. | | | | osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The first |
| Osteoarthritis also runs in families: I have personally | | | | documented trials were done in 1996 and were done |
| seen this in my own family and research has shown | | | | with rheumatoid arthritis patients, further research was |
| this to be true. This form of arthritis is the wearing | | | | then done with osteoarthritis. |