Stress of different types increases the proinflammatory load in rheumatoid arthritis

Rainer H Straub, Joachim R Kalden

Stress in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) stimulates proinflammatory mechanisms due to the defect of stress response systems (for example, the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). Among other mechanisms, the loss of sympathetic nerve fibers in inflamed tissue and inadequate cortisol secretion in relation to inflammation lead to an enhanced proinflammatory load in RA. Stress and the subsequent stimulation of inflammation (systemic and local) lead to increased sensitization of pain and further defects of stress response systems (vicious cycle of stress, pain, and inflammation).