PLOD1 and rheumatoid arthritis: Kass AS et al. also stated that the increases in LH and FSH correlated positively with an increase in key pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNFα, interleukin 1 beta, IL-2, IL-2R, IL-8, and many other pro-inflammatory cytokines.12 That is probably the reason behind the worsening of rheumatoid arthritis in the post-partum period and menopause (ie, periods of high LH and FSH).13