Changes in the make-up of the gut microbiome are linked to the onset of clinically evident rheumatoid arthritis in those at risk of the disease because of genetic, environmental, or immunological factors, suggests research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. It's not clear if this instability is a cause or consequence of disease development, emphasise the researchers, but the findings might nevertheless help to identify those at risk as well as paving the way for preventive and personalised treatment strategies, they suggest. Previously published research consistently shows an unfavourable imbalance in the gut microbiomes of those at risk as well as those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis compared with the gut microbiomes of those without the disease.
But it's not clear exactly which microbes might be involved. To explore this further, the researchers tracked changes in the gut microbiome profiles of 124 people at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis; in 7 newly diagnosed people; and in 22 healthy people over a period of 15 months, by assessing their stool and blood samples at 5 different time points. Those at risk were identified by the presence of precursor anticyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) antibodies, which attack healthy cells and are specific for rheumatoid arthritis, and by experience of joint pain in the preceding 3 months.
Weekly dietary intake was similar among all three groups, although alcohol intake and the amount of regular mo.