Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access

Katherine L. Molnar-Kimber

Publications

• Review Article
  Effects of Smoking on Immunologic and Skeletal Mechanisms Involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Responses of Various Biologic Therapies for RA
  Author(s): Katherine L. Molnar-KimberKatherine L. Molnar-Kimber
  
  Smoking is considered a major risk factor in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Smokers who also carry the HLA-DR4 shared epitope have a higher risk of development of RA. Smoking releases more than 4000 compounds which not only affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems but also bone and joint health. Smokers have a higher risk for bone fractures, development of osteoporosis, and degeneration of intervertebral discs. Bone fractures of most smokers heal slower than those of most controls. Smoking also lowers bone mineral density, increases production of proinflammatory cytokines, and augments the risk of citrullination of proteins in the lungs, and possibly in the joints. RA patients who generated antibodies to cyclic citrullinated proteins (CCP) have a higher risk for joint erosions. Although response rates are significantly higher in nonsmoking early RA patients than nonsmokin.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2155-9899.S6-003

  Abstract PDF

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