Abstract | BACKGROUND: Little is known about the differences in the immunopathogenesis between elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) and younger-onset RA (YORA) and the factors responsible for their clinical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to investigate proinflammatory cytokines of EORA patients and compare them with those of YORA patients. METHODS: RESULTS: A higher proportion of men and a higher frequency of acute onset with constitutional symptoms and comorbidities were observed in EORA compared with YORA patients. Increased levels of serum IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-8 were positively correlated with the 28-joint disease activity score, and elevated levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were positively correlated with erosion scores for both groups of RA patients. Significantly higher IL-6 levels and lower TNF-alpha levels were found in EORA compared with YORA patients. Higher levels of serum IL-6 were found in EORA patients with polymyalgia rheumatica-like symptoms than in those without and were also noted in male patients with EORA compared with female patients. Multivariate analysis showed that high levels of TNF-alpha were associated with the occurrence of constitutional symptoms, and high levels of IL-1beta were associated with the presence of anti- cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in EORA patients. CONCLUSION: EORA patients appear to have differences in clinical characteristics and the patterns of proinflammatory cytokines when compared with YORA patients.
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Authors | Der-Yuan Chen, Tsu-Yi Hsieh, Yi-Ming Chen, Chia-Wie Hsieh, Joung-Liang Lan, Fang-Ju Lin |
Journal | Gerontology
(Gerontology)
Vol. 55
Issue 3
Pg. 250-8
( 2009)
ISSN: 1423-0003 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 18849599
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel. |
Chemical References |
- Antirheumatic Agents
- Cytokines
- Peptides, Cyclic
- Citrulline
- Rheumatoid Factor
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Topics |
- Adult
- Age of Onset
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antirheumatic Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
(blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, immunology)
- Case-Control Studies
- Citrulline
(immunology)
- Cytokines
(blood)
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Humans
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multivariate Analysis
- Peptides, Cyclic
(immunology)
- Rheumatoid Factor
(analysis)
- Treatment Outcome
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