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Association of antibiotic use with rheumatoid arthritis: A Mendelian randomization study

Chang Liu1, Zhijun Ma1, Xin Zhao2

  • 1School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Medicine
|January 31, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated the causal link between antibiotic use and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using Mendelian randomization. Results indicate no direct causal relationship between antibiotic exposure and RA development.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Rheumatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Observational studies suggest a link between antibiotic use and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but causality is unproven.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for clinical practice and patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential causal relationship between the use of 12 different antibiotics and the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  • To utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in a European population to assess causality.

Main Methods:

  • Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) using pooled genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from European populations.
  • Utilized univariate and multivariate MR analyses, including inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, and weighted median methods.
  • Performed comprehensive sensitivity analyses to ensure the robustness of the findings.

Main Results:

  • Univariate MR suggested a potential positive association between tetracycline use and RA (OR=1.013, P=0.028).
  • However, multivariate MR analysis did not support a causal association between tetracycline use and RA.
  • No causal link was identified for the other 11 antibiotics examined.

Conclusions:

  • The study findings do not support a direct causal relationship between antibiotic use and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  • These results may help alleviate clinical concerns regarding antibiotic exposure and RA development.
  • Further MR studies with larger datasets and detailed information are warranted to confirm these findings.

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