Unraveling the hormonal approaches for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its complementary interventions.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that causes redness, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. It is a long-lasting disease that can have a widespread impact on the body, often affecting the hands, feet, and wrists. The immune cells, such as dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, play a significant role in bone degradation and inflammation. Several cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-17A, play a significant role in causing bone erosion, cartilage deterioration, and joint inflammation. Progesterone and estrogen have a crucial impact on the pathophysiology of RA, influencing the immune system. Research has demonstrated that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can effectively reduce inflammation, improve disease activity, enhance joint health, alleviate pain, and promote bone strength. Treatments such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), are effective against chronic inflammatory illnesses like RA. The treatment with Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has an impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which in turn affects the activity of RA illness. These alternative treatments hold promise in enhancing well-being and alleviating joint pain for individuals with RA.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have not disclosed any competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)