Exploring the antiquity of rheumatoid arthritis: A case study from medieval Transylvania

IF 1.3 3区地球科学 Q3 PALEONTOLOGY

International Journal of Paleopathology Pub Date : 2024-11-29 DOI:10.1016/j.ijpp.2024.11.002

Megan A. Heron , Joseph Z. Forstot , Zsolt Nyárádi , Jonathan D. Bethard

{"title":"Exploring the antiquity of rheumatoid arthritis: A case study from medieval Transylvania","authors":"Megan A. Heron , Joseph Z. Forstot , Zsolt Nyárádi , Jonathan D. Bethard","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2024.11.002","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate erosive pathological lesions on a skeleton from medieval Transylvania.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>A skeleton from a Székely archaeological site in Transylvania was examined and radiocarbon dated to Cal 1300 CE - 1415 CE.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The skeletal remains were examined macroscopically and with radiographic imaging. A differential diagnosis was conducted following established protocols.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The individual was estimated to be a probable adult female. Periarticular erosive lesions involving multiple synovial joints, particularly on the small joints of the hands and feet, were observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>A differential diagnosis identifies lesions characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis dating prior to the mid-15th century.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The significance of this diagnosis is great since researchers debate the antiquity and spread of rheumatoid arthritis. Some researchers hypothesize that RA originated in the Americas and spread to Europe after the mid-15th century. However, this study asserts that RA existed in Europe prior to European colonization of the Americas.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Only 30–40 % of the skeletal material was excavated, potentially impacting the differential diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>This case encourages researchers to explore the presence of RA in other medieval groups within and beyond Transylvania as a means to reconstruct the antiquity and geographical distribution of the condition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 13-22"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Paleopathology","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981724003140","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PALEONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate erosive pathological lesions on a skeleton from medieval Transylvania.

Materials

A skeleton from a Székely archaeological site in Transylvania was examined and radiocarbon dated to Cal 1300 CE - 1415 CE.

Methods

The skeletal remains were examined macroscopically and with radiographic imaging. A differential diagnosis was conducted following established protocols.

Results

The individual was estimated to be a probable adult female. Periarticular erosive lesions involving multiple synovial joints, particularly on the small joints of the hands and feet, were observed.

Conclusions

A differential diagnosis identifies lesions characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis dating prior to the mid-15th century.

Significance

The significance of this diagnosis is great since researchers debate the antiquity and spread of rheumatoid arthritis. Some researchers hypothesize that RA originated in the Americas and spread to Europe after the mid-15th century. However, this study asserts that RA existed in Europe prior to European colonization of the Americas.

Limitations

Only 30–40 % of the skeletal material was excavated, potentially impacting the differential diagnosis.

Suggestions for further research

This case encourages researchers to explore the presence of RA in other medieval groups within and beyond Transylvania as a means to reconstruct the antiquity and geographical distribution of the condition.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

International Journal of Paleopathology PALEONTOLOGY-PATHOLOGY

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

25.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Paleopathology is the study and application of methods and techniques for investigating diseases and related conditions from skeletal and soft tissue remains. The International Journal of Paleopathology (IJPP) will publish original and significant articles on human and animal (including hominids) disease, based upon the study of physical remains, including osseous, dental, and preserved soft tissues at a range of methodological levels, from direct observation to molecular, chemical, histological and radiographic analysis. Discussion of ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health, disease and life histories in the past is central to the discipline, so the journal would also encourage papers covering interpretive and theoretical issues, and those that place the study of disease at the centre of a bioarchaeological or biocultural approach. Papers dealing with historical evidence relating to disease in the past (rather than history of medicine) will also be published. The journal will also accept significant studies that applied previously developed techniques to new materials, setting the research in the context of current debates on past human and animal health.