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Genetic, environmental and hormonal factors probably all play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there is no known way to prevent RA. Cigarette smoking is one environmental risk factor for RA that you can avoid.

Certain genes involved in immune system responses are associated with a predisposition for developing RA, although there is no single "rheumatoid arthritis gene." HLA-DR4 is a genetic marker that turns up frequently in people with RA, and other genes also play roles in the development of RA. Having any of these genes is no guarantee that you'll develop RA (in fact, many individuals with this common gene do not develop the disease); likewise, the absence of these genes doesn't rule out the possibility of developing the disease. It appears that a person's genetic make-up is an important part of the story, but not the whole answer.