How Does Family History Affect My Risk Of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Dr. Ali Askari answers the question: 'Family History & Rheumatoid Risk?'

By
Ali Askari, M.D., Director, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center
November 18, 2008, 11:42 AM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: How does family history affect my risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer: Family history has something to do with it. Genetically I would say that these diseases are being transferred to the children and offsprings, but it's not well calculated as to how many of the children would get it. And is not the fault of the parents because they got the gene from their own parents and it's passed to the children.

So genetically, yes, there is a predisposition I would say, but one cannot calculate exactly how many of the children and who, if any, would get it.

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