Comparison of Clinical Course, Manifestations and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Between Men and Women Referred to Two Medical Centers in Tehran

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1624

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease with diffuse involvement of the body systems with unknown cause. The disease is characterized by continuous and persistent inflammatory synovitis with symmetric distribution in peripheral joints. The disease is more common in women than men and uneven sexual distribution is evident in different clinical classifications. Therefore, it is more likely that sexual factor, along with other aspects of the pathogenesis, affects the disease course and manifestations. The study aimed to examine gender differences in Iranian men and women. RA patients referred to two medical centers in 2005-2010 were studied. Demographic data was obtained by a questionnaire form. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16. The number of total patients referred was 438, 314 females and 124 males, with the mean age of 40.5 for women and 40 for men at the onset of study. The mean duration of illness before admission was 3.5 years for men and 4.2 years for women. The rate of swollen and involved joints was more in men than women. Joint deformity was not significantly different between male and female patients, but joint erosion was more in men than women. The average number of positive ACR criteria was almost equal between women (4.08) and men (4.17), but extraextra- articular involvement was significantly higher in women than men. Rheumatoid factor was approximately the same and about 64% positive in both sexes and Anti-CCP was equal and approximately 43.5% positive. Drug and non-drug therapy had no significant difference between male and female patients. Given that rheumatoid arthritis is 2-4 times more common in women than in men sex hormones and factors associated with fertility have been proposed as a potential etiology of the disease. Gender involves in disease complexity by affecting the quality and quantity of disease inflammatory and functional consequences.

Rheumatoid arthritis; Gender; Autoimmune