Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Recently, we discovered a new autoantibody system in rheumatoid arthritis (RA): anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies. These antibodies have value in predicting joint destruction; however, it is not clear whether they are present before the diagnosis of RA and whether they have value as predictors of RA development. Therefore, we studied whether anti-CarP antibodies are present in patients with arthralgia and whether their presence is associated with the development of RA. METHODS: Sera from 340 arthralgia patients who did not have clinical signs of arthritis but who were positive for IgM rheumatoid factor ( IgM-RF) and/or anti- cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (anti-CCP-2) and 32 healthy controls were tested for anti-CarP IgG antibodies. Of the patients with arthralgia, 111 were IgM-RF positive/ anti-CCP-2 antibody negative and 229 were anti-CCP-2 antibody positive. Patients were observed for the development of RA (based on the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria) during a median followup period of 36 months. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to compare the risk of developing RA between arthralgia patients who were positive for anti-CarP antibodies and those who were negative for anti-CarP antibodies during followup. RESULTS: Anti-CarP antibodies were present in the sera of 39% of the patients. One hundred twenty patients developed RA, after a median of 12 months (interquartile range [IQR] 6-24). The presence of anti-CarP antibodies was associated with the development of RA in the entire arthralgia cohort after correction for RF and anti-CCP-2 antibody status (hazard ratio 1.56 [95% confidence interval 1.06-2.29], P=0.023), as well as in the anti-CCP-2 antibody-positive subgroup (odds ratio 2.231 [95% confidence interval 1.31-3.79], P=0.003). CONCLUSION:
|
Authors | Jing Shi, Lotte A van de Stadt, E W Nivine Levarht, Tom W J Huizinga, René E M Toes, Leendert A Trouw, Dirkjan van Schaardenburg |
Journal | Arthritis and rheumatism
(Arthritis Rheum)
Vol. 65
Issue 4
Pg. 911-5
(Apr 2013)
ISSN: 1529-0131 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23279976
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Copyright | Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Rheumatology. |
Chemical References |
- Autoantibodies
- Carbamates
- Immunoglobulin G
- Immunoglobulin M
- Peptides, Cyclic
- Proteins
- cyclic citrullinated peptide
- Rheumatoid Factor
|
Topics |
- Adult
- Arthralgia
(blood, immunology)
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
(blood, diagnosis, immunology)
- Autoantibodies
(blood)
- Carbamates
(immunology)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G
(blood, immunology)
- Immunoglobulin M
(blood, immunology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Peptides, Cyclic
(blood, immunology)
- Prodromal Symptoms
- Proportional Hazards Models
- Proteins
(immunology)
- Rheumatoid Factor
(blood, immunology)
|