Rheumatoid Arthritis Found to Genetically Increase Risk of Hand Disorders: Study
A recent study published in the European Journal of Medical Research revealed that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) plays a direct role in increasing the risk of certain hand disorders, specifically carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and trigger finger (TF). The findings are based on advanced statistical genetic methods and illuminate the importance of early monitoring and preventive strategies in RA patients to reduce secondary hand complications.
After analyzing genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, this study used Mendelian randomization to determine whether RA actually causes other hand conditions or merely shares overlapping risk factors with them. This research evaluated associations between RA and four specific hand conditions: CTS, TF, Dupuytren’s disease (DD), and de Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT).
This research was first conducted as an univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis and discovered that genetically predisposed RA significantly increased the risk for CTS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04), TF (OR = 1.13), and DQT (OR = 1.11). However, there was no significant causal association between RA and DD, which suggested that the link is specific to particular types of tendon or nerve compression disorders.
To further validate the findings, this study incorporated a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis to control for potential confounders, including blood sugar levels, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use. After these adjustments, the causal associations between RA and both CTS and TF remained statistically robust. This implies that the increased risk is not simply due to lifestyle or metabolic factors but is instead an intrinsic genetic effect of RA.
The results were further strengthened by sensitivity checks, including a leave-one-out analysis that confirmed no single genetic variant skewed the findings. This added to the credibility of RA being a true independent contributor to the development of CTS and TF. CTS and TF are both painful, functionally limiting conditions frequently requiring surgical intervention if not caught early. With RA already being a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease, recognizing its genetic link to these disorders can guide rheumatologists and orthopedic specialists in risk stratification and early intervention strategies.
Though the association with DQT was initially seen, it did not hold under more rigorous controls, and no evidence was found linking RA to DD. Further studies in diverse populations and real-world clinical settings are needed to confirm the generalizability of the findings.
Reference:
Lv, Z., Yang, Y., Bao, Y., & Deng, C. (2025). Unveiling the genetic association between rheumatoid arthritis and four common hand pathologies. European Journal of Medical Research, 30(1), 492. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02695-0
