Change isn't a good thing for Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that dramatically increases the risk of death. In a recent study led by Osaka University, researchers identified a genetic variant that increases the risk of ILD among Japanese RA patients, most likely by altering the expression of the RPA3 gene and triggering scarring of lung tissue. Identifying risk variants associated with RA-ILD will help unravel the underlying causes of disease in different populations.