A new study shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may start many years before people notice any symptoms like joint pain or stiffness. Researchers say the disease begins quietly in the body long before it becomes visible.
Scientists from the Allen Institute, CU Anschutz, University of California San Diego, and Benaroya Research Institute studied people at high risk of RA for seven years. These participants had special antibodies in their blood that signal future disease. Even though they did not have pain or swelling, their immune systems were already changing.
The study found that certain immune cells, like B cells, were becoming more inflammatory. Other cells, called T helper cells, increased in number and helped produce “autoantibodies,” which attack the body’s own tissues. Even some T cells that normally fight infections were changing in how their genes worked. This shows the immune system was being affected long before symptoms appeared.
The researchers also saw changes in other blood cells. Monocytes, a type of white blood cell, were producing more inflammatory molecules, similar to what is seen in people with active RA. This means the disease is quietly developing in the body years before joints start hurting.
These findings could help doctors detect RA earlier. By identifying the immune changes and biomarkers in the blood, it may be possible to prevent RA or treat it before it damages the joints. Scientists hope this research will lead to new ways to stop RA early instead of waiting for painful symptoms to appear.
Rheumatoid arthritis may start silently in the body years before any signs are felt. This study gives hope that early detection and treatment could prevent serious joint damage in the future.
