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Mendelian Randomization Analysis of the Causal Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease
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February 2026
Authors: Mengyu Zhang, Xiao Chen, Wenqing Zhang, Guang Yang, Yunhong Yin, Yiqing Qu
Comment by Mark Lavercombe: Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is estimated to occur in 10-20% of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), with male sex, older age and smoking history among various risk factors previously identified. In this paper, the authors perform a Mendelian Randomization analysis of data from a large genome-wide association study with 14361 cases of RA and 42923 controls to identify genetic variants associated with RA and their effect as instrumental variables for the development of ILD. Fifty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analysed using statistical methods to assess causality, heterogeneity, and pleiotropy. Their results suggest a causal relationship with an odds ratio of 1.155 (95% confidence interval: 1.083–1.232, p = 0.0000104).
Medical Education Editor for Respirology
Dr Mark Lavercombe was appointed in this specialist editor role in 2021 to further expand and strengthen Respirology’s contribution to medical education.
Located in Melbourne, Australia, he works as a clinician in respiratory health and sleep disorders at Western Health and is affiliated with The University of Melbourne as a distinguished expert in medical education.
He became a member of our Editorial Board in 2016 with the responsibility of selecting new Respirology publications with educational value, which has grown into a curated article selection featured on this page, as a benefit to APSR members.
Dr Lavercombe also authors a column in Respirology on his most recent choices and their specific value to continued medical education for our readers around the world.
