Test to find out if my daughter may be pre disposed to RA?

[bernese1225]

Hi can anyone tell me if there’s a test to find out if my daughter may be pre-disposed to RA please? We live in the U.K. I have RA and she suffers from chronic hives. She found an article that states: “Thyroid desease is the most commonly reported autoimmune condition in people with chronic hives, followed by rhuematoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes...”

[helixhelix]

No, nothing reliable.

There is a gene test (HLA27) that is used to help diagnose ankylosing spondylitis (AS). About 90% of people with AS have this gene. Which sounds great as a diagnostic test, EXCEPT for the fact that a lot of people without AS also have this gene....so basically it is only useful once you have the symptoms of this disease to confirm that this is the most likely cause.

As for RA, current thinking is that many people have the genetic make-up to get RA but it needs something to trigger it into action. These triggers can be environmental things, like smoking, and also stress.

The most useful thing for your daughter is to realise that, and make sure to live a lifestyle that has the least likelihood of triggering RA in case she has inherited the likelihood from you (which she may or may not have done, it's not a strong hereditary disease. Biggest trigger factor is smoking, so don't or stop. But also trying to minimise stress, and live well with good diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep.

Basically all the things that keep you healthy will also help to ward off RA.

[bernese1225 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you

[5minutespeace]

My daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis when she was 15 months old, she is now 2.5 and is on Methotrexate and Humira. She however has a negative Rheumatoid factor in her bloods whereas I with RA have a positive. I have always been told that there is no link but personally I think there is a genetic predisposition towards immune system disorders.

[5minutespeace in reply to 5minutespeace]

I agree with the previous poster about a trigger though, I had glandular fever as a teenager which I think ruined my immune system and then 10 years later got RA shortly after breaking my wrist.

[Mouseling in reply to 5minutespeace]

Hi that's interesting I had Glandular fever too in my teens. I got RA just after I had my daughter. My paternal Grandmother and cousin have psoriasis. There were a couple of people way back in family history who had gold injections for unknown reasons. I had a very stressful time some years before I was diagnosed and during that time I smoked thinking it would help stress! 😢 wish I had known then what I know now. So yes I think there is a genetic link and then other trigger combinations depending on a persons individual makeup.

[vonniesims in reply to 5minutespeace]

I too had glandular fever as a teenager. Developed RA when 45. Also had a very stressful life .

[bpeal1 in reply to 5minutespeace]

That is interesting. My daughter has also just been diagnosed with JIA (although she is a lot older than your daughter! She is 11). I’m RA factor positive and she is RA factor negative.

[5minutespeace in reply to bpeal1]

I think you can get JIA with both positive or negative Rheumatoid factor. I think (not an expert) that if it is negative then there is more of a chance you can eventually grow out of the disease?

[bpeal1 in reply to 5minutespeace]

Yes I think you are right. However before she was tested I assumed she would be positive because I was.

[Kai-- in reply to 5minutespeace]

.

5minutespeace & bpeal1 might you kindly consider Katy ( healthunlocked.com/jia/post... ), Cole, Jenn, & Joseph’s ( healthunlocked.com/nras/pos... ) experience? 🤔

Might you consider connecting with Cole’s mum, Christine 👩‍👦 ( naturalcurejia.org/ )? 🤔

My simple layman’s understanding is "genes load the gun, lifestyle/ environment pull the trigger".

.

bernese1225, there are multiple tests ( healthunlocked.com/nras/pos... ) interpreted by astute, skilled rheumatologist that may be able to reveal if autoimmune diseases are beginning to reveal themselves (emerge) in your daughter. (Flickers of autoimmune flame can begin to show signs of ‘activity’ years before disease starts manifesting outwardly via pain & other symptoms.)

Kindly, please 🙏 understand, ”your genes are NOT your fate" ( ted.com/talks/dean_ornish_s... ).

(Genes/ DNA are not destiny. 😌 )

There’s much your daughter can do to side step/ avoid "pulling the trigger", if her genetic gun is already pre-loaded with RA, diabetes, hypo/ hyper-thyroid, or whatever cluster of autoimmune diseases her genes may be holding.

Wishing you each, the very best for yourselves & your beloved girls. 👶 👧 🧒 👱‍♀️ 🧑

.

😌 🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

.

[Downtime]

I agree with Helix that there is a genetic link but it’s certainly not a given that daughters will develop it. My mother had RA which started in her 30’s but I didn’t start with symptoms until much later, in my case probably due to a period of extreme stress.

I suppose it’s good to be aware that you might get it, and try and live your life accordingly, but there no point in worrying about it too much as apart from trying to be healthy, not smoking etc, you can’t predict what life throws at you .

It never occurred to me that I might get it as it was always my mother’s disease and i never knew much about it. We were sadly estranged for many years.

[Ruth12345]

Im the first known person in my family to have RA. My daughter has an undiagnosed autoimmune disease diagnosed a few years before me as does her cousin.

[RebeccaMB]

My mum had RA, I had jia since age 10 and my daughter had jia since 2. My daughter's was triggered by an injury. More likely in girls i believe to get it if family history of it. For me the key thing is to be aware of looking out for signs (inflammation/swelling/pain) and getting diagnosis and treatment promptly. That can mean having to be more clued up on things than your GP (My own jia took over a year to diagnose and by then the damage was done and I've needed a hip replacement as a result) and push for referral to rheumatologist if you do have concerns. There can also be links between autoimmune conditions and arthritis so I've known people who have been puzzled when a child is diagnosed with jia with no history of arthritis but there is history of other autoimmune conditions. If symptoms do occur then push for prompt referral. GP's should in theory be referring if symptoms lasting more than 6 weeks but with family history of it just keep pushing if it happens. Hopefully it won't happen and she will be fine. Xxx

[n1mble2]

There is a trial at the moment that tests an enzyme which if it comes back positive it is highly likely that RA will develop within the next 16 years, approx. It's not the usual RH factor that is tested at the GPs. I know the trial is at Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds but there may be others elsewhere.