Sex Differences in Rheumatoid Arthritis: More Than Meets the Eye

Overview

Journal BMC Med

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2009 Apr 1

PMID 19331649

Citations 131

Authors

Ronald F van Vollenhoven

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sex differences in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are well described, but the literature is not as clear about sex differences in RA disease course and prognosis. A recent study from a very large cross-sectional international cohort demonstrated slightly worse levels of disease activity and function in female patients with RA, compared with men. These findings are discussed in the context of our evolving knowledge of sex differences in the expression of this prototypic autoimmune disease, both in terms of the actual disease activity level, the effects that the disease has on physical function, and our ability accurately to measure these aspects.

Citing Articles

Salt sensitivity of blood pressure: mechanisms and sex-specific differences.

Masenga S, Wandira N, Cattivelli-Murdoch G, Saleem M, Beasley H, Hinton Jr A Nat Rev Cardiol. 2025; .

PMID: 39984695 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-025-01135-0.

Deep learning-based prediction of autoimmune diseases.

Yang D, Peng X, Zheng S, Peng S Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):4576.

PMID: 39920178 PMC: 11806040. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88477-4.

Is the treatment of ankle osteoarthritis changing over time in Italy? Analysis of temporal trends for fusion and arthroplasty in a population-based study from 2001 to 2022 on the National Hospital Discharge Record database.

Cuccu A, Samaila E, Ciminello E, Alfieri Montrasio U, Cortese F, Ceccarelli S J Orthop Traumatol. 2025; 26(1):6.

PMID: 39881112 PMC: 11780058. DOI: 10.1186/s10195-024-00809-8.

Association between age at first birth and risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women: Evidence from NHANES 2011-2020.

Cui H, Huang C, Ye Y, Guo T, Yu W, Niu P PLoS One. 2025; 20(1):e0317443.

PMID: 39820142 PMC: 11737699. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317443.

Volume and distribution of white matter hyperintensities in rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis patients.

Cox J, Cole J, Kempton M, Williams S, De Groot M Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):32010.

PMID: 39738366 PMC: 11685908. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-83559-1.

References

Tengstrand B, Ahlmen M, Hafstrom I . The influence of sex on rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective study of onset and outcome after 2 years. J Rheumatol. 2004; 31(2):214-22. View

Felson D, Anderson J, Boers M, Bombardier C, Furst D, Goldsmith C . American College of Rheumatology. Preliminary definition of improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1995; 38(6):727-35. DOI: 10.1002/art.1780380602. View

OBrien S, Fitzgerald P, Scully P, Landers A, Scott L, Dinan T . Impact of gender and menstrual cycle phase on plasma cytokine concentrations. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2007; 14(2):84-90. DOI: 10.1159/000107423. View

Talal N . Sjögren's syndrome: historical overview and clinical spectrum of disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1992; 18(3):507-15. View

van Vollenhoven R, Mcguire J . Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone: can they be used to treat autoimmune diseases?. Cleve Clin J Med. 1994; 61(4):276-84. DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.61.4.276. View

Moll J, WRIGHT V . Psoriatic arthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1973; 3(1):55-78. DOI: 10.1016/0049-0172(73)90035-8. View

Cutolo M, Sulli A, Capellino S, Villaggio B, Montagna P, Seriolo B . Sex hormones influence on the immune system: basic and clinical aspects in autoimmunity. Lupus. 2004; 13(9):635-8. DOI: 10.1191/0961203304lu1094oa. View

Bingefors K, Isacson D . Epidemiology, co-morbidity, and impact on health-related quality of life of self-reported headache and musculoskeletal pain--a gender perspective. Eur J Pain. 2004; 8(5):435-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2004.01.005. View

Prevoo M, van t Hof M, Kuper H, van Leeuwen M, van de Putte L, van Riel P . Modified disease activity scores that include twenty-eight-joint counts. Development and validation in a prospective longitudinal study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1995; 38(1):44-8. DOI: 10.1002/art.1780380107. View

10.

van der Heijde D, van t Hof M, van Riel P, van de Putte L . Development of a disease activity score based on judgment in clinical practice by rheumatologists. J Rheumatol. 1993; 20(3):579-81. View

11.

Gabriel S . Why do people with rheumatoid arthritis still die prematurely?. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008; 67 Suppl 3:iii30-4. PMC: 2830861. DOI: 10.1136/ard.2008.098038. View

12.

Linos A, WORTHINGTON J, OFallon W, Kurland L . The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis in Rochester, Minnesota: a study of incidence, prevalence, and mortality. Am J Epidemiol. 1980; 111(1):87-98. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112878. View

13.

Avina-Zubieta J, Choi H, Sadatsafavi M, Etminan M, Esdaile J, Lacaille D . Risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Arthritis Rheum. 2008; 59(12):1690-7. DOI: 10.1002/art.24092. View

14.

Cutolo M, Villaggio B, Seriolo B, Montagna P, Capellino S, Straub R . Synovial fluid estrogens in rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmun Rev. 2004; 3(3):193-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2003.08.003. View

15.

Riley 3rd J, Robinson M, Wise E, Myers C, Fillingim R . Sex differences in the perception of noxious experimental stimuli: a meta-analysis. Pain. 1998; 74(2-3):181-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3959(97)00199-1. View

16.

Unruh A . Gender variations in clinical pain experience. Pain. 1996; 65(2-3):123-67. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(95)00214-6. View

17.

REAH T . THE PROGNOSIS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. (185 PATIENTS FOLLOWED UP OVER 13 YEARS). Proc R Soc Med. 1963; 56:813-7. PMC: 1897195. View

18.

Riley 3rd J, Robinson M, Wise E, Price D . A meta-analytic review of pain perception across the menstrual cycle. Pain. 1999; 81(3):225-235. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3959(98)00258-9. View

19.

Forslind K, Hafstrom I, Ahlmen M, Svensson B . Sex: a major predictor of remission in early rheumatoid arthritis?. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006; 66(1):46-52. PMC: 1798403. DOI: 10.1136/ard.2006.056937. View

20.

Symmons D . Epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis: determinants of onset, persistence and outcome. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2002; 16(5):707-22. DOI: 10.1053/berh.2002.0257. View