The effect of tonsillectomy and appendectomy on the development of rheumatoid arthritis

The possibility of an association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and prior tonsillectomy and appendectomy was investigated in a community based case-control study of 229 female cases of probable and definite RA and 458 appropriately matched controls. No association was found with logistic analysis even when controlling for a variety of factors such as socio-economic status, oral contraceptive use, and their interactions.