What causes JIA?
Although the exact cause of JIA is still unclear, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is believed to be a disease of the immune system. The immune system protects the body from infections and certain diseases. In JIA, the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. It’s unknown why this happens, but both heredity and environment seem to play a role. It is believed that increased levels of a protein of the immune system called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) play a role in the inflammation associated with JIA. Knowing how JIA develops can help you understand how some treatments, like ENBREL, work. Learn how ENBREL works in rheumatic conditions.
