Abstract:

Rheumatoid arthritis is a global disease with an increasing incidence. Although increasing experimental and epidemiological studies have suggested the potential therapeutic effects of parasitic infection on rheumatoid arthritis since the proposition of Hygiene Hypothesis in 1870, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. Thus, it is of great significance to study the relationship between parasitic infection and rheumatoid arthritis. This review is to discuss the relationship between parasitic infection and rheumatoid arthritis and the mechanisms which may involve cell immunity and cytokine alterations.

Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis, Parasite, Immune response