What are the causes of rheumatic diseases?
Disease description:
My father suffers from a rheumatic disease. I would like to ask, what are the causes of such conditions?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Rheumatic diseases are a large group of disorders that include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ankylosing spondylitis. There are many causes.
1. Genetic factors: Rheumatic diseases show a clear tendency for familial clustering. For example, ankylosing spondylitis is often associated with human leukocyte antigen positivity and has a familial predisposition. Diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus also exhibit a certain degree of genetic susceptibility.
2. Immune system abnormalities: Many rheumatic diseases are associated with autoimmune reactions, in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, causing inflammation and tissue damage.
3. Environmental factors: Factors such as cold and humidity may also trigger rheumatic diseases. These factors might increase the risk of developing such diseases by affecting the immune and circulatory systems.
4. Infection factors: Infections with bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, and other pathogens may trigger rheumatic diseases. For example, rheumatic fever is closely related to streptococcal infection, while systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Infections may induce immune system disturbances, leading to the onset of rheumatic diseases.
5. Physical factors: Certain physical factors, such as excessive exposure to sunlight, may be triggers for certain rheumatic diseases like lupus erythematosus.
