Preclinical RA: How to halt its progression

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with a complex pathogenesis that evolves through various stages before clinical symptoms emerge. This review outlines the natural history of RA, starting from genetic predisposition and environmental triggers to preclinical autoimmunity and subsequent joint inflammation. Key genetic factors interact with environmental elements like smoking and infections, producing autoantibodies such as anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor, which precede clinical manifestations by several years. The preclinical phases offer critical opportunities for intervention aiming at halting disease progression. Preventive strategies including lifestyle modifications, dietary interventions, and targeted immune modulation may halt the progression to clinical RA in those at-risk individuals.