Menopausal Transition and the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis An Overview

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory illness caused by an accumulation of inflammatory infiltration in the synovial membrane, which leads to the progressive deterioration of joint architecture. Women are three times more likely than men to have RA, with more severe functional loss and disability. The purpose of this review is to study the shifts in the hormonal system brought on by menopause and their potential links with RA. Females are more likely to develop RA as a result of hereditary and environmental interactions of sex hormones and their effects on the immune system. Rapid declines in ovarian function and systemic estrogen have been linked to postmenopausal increases in proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The majority of the data from the literature review imply that female hormone characteristics that can be influenced by hereditary and environmental variables impact the development of autoimmune illnesses, including RA.

Comprehensive insights into rheumatoid arthritis: Pathophysiology, current therapies and herbal alternatives for effective disease management

“…Women are at a greater risk of developing autoimmune disorders, especially between ages 40 and 60, when the female body undergoes significant menopausal hormonal alterations (Shah et al, 2020). Menopausal women suffering from RA are associated with an increased deterioration in joint functionality, as compared to women in pre-menopausal or post-menopausal age groups (Mollard et al, 2018;Ramachandran et al, 2023).…”