Is this hereditary?

[MrsChips]

I have GCA with Takayasu Arteritis and my children have been asking whether it may be hereditary. Does anyone know whether any research has been undertaken to find out if it is and, if so, is it more likely to affect females or males?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

GCA and PMR are not regarded as hereditary in the full sense of the word - there are no associated genes that have been identified to be passed on from parent to child. There is thought to be a genetic component - it is more common in populations with a Scandinavian heritage but that is more that possessing these genes makes someone more susceptible to developing them.

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

Since parents and children do have a common genetic heritage your children will also have this increased propensity to develop it as part of their make-up. But there is no single cause of either, it is an accumulation of insults to the immune system which may be due to environment, infection, trauma, or other factors such as stress. Your children are unlikely to have entirely the same history there.

The incidence of PMR is highest in Scandinavians, falls as you travel south in Europe and is very low in people of Asian and Black African heritage.

They should perhaps have chosen their parentage differently - but there is no definite likelihood they will develop PMR/GCA too.

There is some suggestion there is a genetic component to Takayasu's arteritis - it and GCA are very similar but not identical. And again, the possession of these genes doesn't mean that is will definitely be passed from parent to child.

openaccessjournals.com/arti...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

[Maisiek]

Nothing scientific but I have PMR as did my aunt, and my cousin had GCA, so I've warned my girls To be on the look- out for it - but I do tell people anyway as GPs are so unaware ( I was diagnosed by my physio) and early diagnosis is so important. ( my mum, myself and my daughter also have under active thyroids , but hey ho it could be worse. Good luck x

[piglette]

I believe that propensity to get auto immune diseases runs in families, although it is my own personal theory. My mother had ME, I have PMR and my niece is a coeliac.

[Portobello in reply to piglette]

I agree- I have PMR and Lichen Sclerosus; my mother had Lupus and her brother had MS.

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No.