Gut microbe changes signal arthritis risk

Detecting reduced gut microbe diversity can pave way for early rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, opine experts

Changes in gut microbes could be related to an onset of rheumatoid arthritis, eventually translating into symptoms that can be diagnosed, according to a study. In individuals who developed the autoimmune condition, researchers found that the most changes, or "instabilities," in specific strains of gut bacteria involved in inflammation were seen 10 months prior to diagnosis, suggesting that the gut changes could signal a late stage.

An autoimmune disorder is one in which healthy tissues and organs are attacked by the immune system, which normally helps the body fight infection and disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic (persistent) autoimmune condition in which there is inflammation and, therefore, pain in one's joints.

However, it was not clear if changes, or "instabilities," in gut bugs trigger the development of the disease or follow it, the researchers from the University of Leeds, UK, said.