Rheumatoid Arthritis Causally Linked to Prostate Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Genetically predicted rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is causally associated with prostate cancer (PCa), according to a study published online Jan. 10 in Medicine.

Shihua Ye, from Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University in China, and colleagues examined the causal association between three common autoimmune diseases: RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the risk for PCa. Genome-wide association studies summary statistics were used to conduct forward and reverse Mendelian randomization (MR). Risk factors, including smoking and obesity, were also incorporated in the multivariable MR analysis.

The researchers found that genetically predicted RA was associated with an increased risk for PCa in a univariable MR analysis (odds ratio, 1.036; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.022 to 1.049). No significant association was seen for SLE or AS with PCa. The positive association between RA and PCa was confirmed in a multivariable MR analysis adjusted for smoking and obesity. No significant inverse causal associations were seen between PCa and the three autoimmune diseases in a reverse MR analysis.

“The positive association between genetically predicted RA and PCa risk found in our study highlights the importance of monitoring PCa risk in patients with RA. Clinicians should be aware of this potential comorbidity and consider including PCa screening in routine checkups for RA patients,” the authors write.

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