Many pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis report that their symptoms go away during pregnancy but return within a few months after delivery. The most plausible reason for the temporary remission pointed to hormonal changes. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have been searching for a more specific cause.

In a study, reported in the July 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, Hutchinson researchers measured the amount of DNA from the fetus found in the blood of 25 pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis. Fetal DNA was found in the blood of all of the pregnant study participants and those with higher levels had more relief from symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The Seattle Times further explains how the fetal DNA acts like a decoy, causing relief of arthritis symptoms in pregnant women.

Related Resources:

• More About Pregnancy and Arthritis
• 8 Important Facts About Pregnancy and Arthritis
• Pregnancy and Arthritis: Overcoming the Difficulties
• 10 Things You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Women with Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Greater Pregnancy Complications

_{Photo by Richard Beebe (iStockphoto)}