| Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy | | | | predomination of helper T-cell 2 (TH2) cytokine profile; |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease that occurs more in | | | | pregnancy affects humoral immunity in which a |
| women usually of child bearing age than in men. | | | | proportional decrease in the immunoglobulin G lacking |
| Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy seem to have a | | | | terminal galactose units can be observed and there is |
| connection based on medical observations and studies. | | | | the development of anti-HLA class II antibodies too; |
| During pregnancy, development from the disease can | | | | there is decreased neutrophil respiratory burst during |
| be observed. | | | | pregnancy because of the altered neutrophil function; |
| Here are some of them: during pregnancy, hormonal | | | | the elevated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such |
| changes take place. An example is the level change | | | | as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and soluble |
| of cortisol, estrogen and progestin; pregnancy also has | | | | tumor necrosis factor as well as the down regulation |
| an effect on the cell-mediated immunity like the | | | | of Th1 cytokines during pregnancy. |