A team of researchers from Adelaide and the United States has found a surprising connection between a rare type of arthritis and gene mutations that are usually seen in blood cancer.
The study looked at a type of rheumatoid arthritis called seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. This form of arthritis is different from the more common kind because it doesn’t show the usual markers in blood tests and often doesn’t respond well to standard treatments. Doctors still don’t know what causes it, and better treatments are needed.
The research was published in the journal Blood by the American Society of Hematology.
It was a joint effort between SAHMRI, the University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Flinders University, and the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. The study was led by Associate Professor Devendra Hiwase, a clinical hematologist, and Dr. Dan Thomas, who leads the Blood Cancer Program at SAHMRI.
The team was surprised to discover that many patients who had mutations in certain genes linked to blood cancer—specifically IDH1 and IDH2—also developed seronegative arthritis. These genes affect the bone marrow and are known to play a role in conditions like acute myeloid leukemia.
In several cases, these gene mutations appeared before the arthritis started, suggesting that they might be involved in causing the disease. The researchers believe that other bone marrow disorders or gene changes might also trigger inflammation that looks like autoimmune disease.
The study also found that arthritis developed sooner in patients with these gene mutations compared to those without. Plus, certain chemical byproducts produced by the cancer were linked to the arthritis symptoms.
This is important because it suggests that some treatments used for blood cancers could also help people with this rare form of arthritis. These include metabolic therapies that target the same mutations.
Associate Professor Hiwase said, “Our findings could lead to new treatments for arthritis by targeting the same gene mutations seen in blood cancers.”
Dr. Thomas added that this research was made possible by combining digital health records with advanced technology, like rapid mass spectrometry. “It shows how powerful team science can be when different fields work together,” he said.
This discovery opens the door to new ways of treating seronegative rheumatoid arthritis by using medicines already available for blood cancers. It also deepens our understanding of how immune diseases and cancer may be connected.
For people interested in arthritis, studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil and pomegranate might help manage symptoms. Other research suggests that medical cannabis may reduce arthritis and back pain, and that it is possible to live pain-free with the right lifestyle changes.
The full research findings are available in the journal Blood.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and eating yogurt linked to lower frailty in older people.
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