Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory type of arthritis characterized by severe joint pain, inflammation and loss of mobility — particularly within the hands of middle age to elderly women. Symptoms often come and go and can affect other body parts, such as the eyes, mouth and lungs. The causes of RA is unknown, although it’s categorized as an autoimmune disease because it appears that the immune system is attacking its own tissues. Genetics, hormones, environment, diet and gastrointestinal health are all related factors.

An estimated 1.5 to 2 million American adults currently suffer from RA. There are natural remedies, lifestyle changes and pharmaceutical treatments that help reduce the symptoms of RA and slow its progression.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that having one kind of autoimmune disease can lead to another.

The scientists serendipitously found that mice with antibody-induced rheumatoid arthritis in their joints went on to develop spinal lesions similar to those in axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) which causes fusion of the vertebrate and curvature, or bending, of the backbone.

The study was published today in the journal Immune Network.

“Our results suggest that one autoimmune disease, such as inflammatory arthritis, may also lead to a secondary autoimmune disease such as AxSpA,” said the study’s lead author Nirmal Banda, PhD, professor in the division of rheumatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “This interesting disease association may be due to the binding of anti-collagen autoantibodies to the spine, or to some alteration of the immune system that requires further investigation.”

These same anti-collagen antibodies are also present in humans with arthritis. They directly attack joint cartilage resulting in inflammation and pain.

Banda noted that every mouse injected with collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) developed arthritis and then curvature of the spine consistent with axial spondyloarthritis.

“I began to notice the proliferation of bone in the spine and fusing of the vertebrate,” he said. “The  normal spaces between the spine vertebrate in certain location were disappearing. This is similar to what happens to humans with AxSpA.”

The connection, he said, has not been made in any other study he’s seen.

“I believe we are the first to make this link,” he said.

But exactly how one autoimmune disease could trigger another remains a mystery, one that Banda hopes to investigate.

“I want to know what the mechanism is,” he said.

In the meantime, he suggested that those with an autoimmune disease be vigilant in case they develop another.

“I believe because of our changing environment we are seeing a growth in autoimmune diseases,” he said. “There are already connections between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis and dry age-related macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis. I believe this is an area that needs further exploration.”

The study co-authors include V. Michael Holers, MD, professor in the division of rheumatology at the CU School of Medicine and Francisco  G. La Rosa, MD, professor in the division of pathology at the CU School of Medicine.