Rheumatoid arthritis phenotype at presentation differs depending on the number of autoantibodies present

V. F A M Derksen, S. Ajeganova, L. A. Trouw, A. H M van der Helm-van Mil, I. Hafström, T. W J Huizinga, R. E M Toes, B. Svensson, D. van der Woude

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), seropositive and seronegative disease may be two entities with different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, long-term outcomes and disease presentations. However, the effect of the conjoint presence of multiple autoantibodies, as proxy for a more pronounced humoral autoimmune response, on clinical phenotype remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the association between the number of autoantibodies and initial clinical presentation in two independent cohorts of patients with early RA. Methods Autoantibody status (rheumatoid factor, anticitrullinated protein antibodies and anticarbamylated protein antibodies) was determined at baseline in the Leiden Early Arthritis Cohort (n=828) and the Swedish BARFOT (Better Anti-Rheumatic Farmaco-Therapy, n=802) study. The association between the number of autoantibodies and baseline clinical characteristics was investigated using univariable and multivariable ordinal regression. Results In both cohorts, the following independent associations were found in multivariable analysis: patients with a higher number of RA-associated antibodies were younger, more often smokers, had a longer symptom duration and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate at presentation compared with patients with few autoantibodies. Conclusions The number of autoantibodies, reflecting the breadth of the humoral autoimmune response, is associated with the clinical presentation of RA. Predisease pathophysiology is thus reflected by the initial clinical phenotype.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)716-720
JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume76
Early online date2016 Nov 9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Rheumatology and Autoimmunity

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