Rheumatoid Factor Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Articles

Lysosomal or brush border enzymuria in kidney enzyme activities in seronegative rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: To determine the effects of non-treated seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on proximal renal tubule, sensitivity of Alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), g-glutamyltransferase (g--GT), β2 microglobulin in urine β2M), as well as relation with rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-Reactive protein (CRP), DAS 28 disease activity index. Methods: RF was determined by agglutination test (Latex RF test, while kinetic methods were used for determination of Alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) and g-glutamyltransferase (g-GT), as well as MEIA (Micro particle Enzyme Immunoassay) to determine β2 microglobulin in urine. Samples (serum and urine) of 70 participants were examined (35 RA not treated, 35 health control group). Results: In 35 RF negative RA, AAP enzymuria was present in 12 (34.28%) patients, g-GT was present in 7 patients (20%), while β2 microglobulin was present in 3 patients (8.57%). In the healthy control group, 4 patients showed AAP positivity (11.42%), 2 patients g-GT positivity (5.71%) and 1 patient showed presence of β2 microglobulin in urine (2.85). RF was not present in any patient (0%). Conclusion: AAP has a higher sensitivity of g-GT and b2 microglobulin in the detection of asymptomatic renal lesions in non treated seronegative RA.

Prevalence and severity of periodontitis in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Introduction:Periodontitis is associated with many chronic health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA and periodontitis have similarities in inflammatory mechanism, morphology, and histopathology. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, multifactorial degenerative disease characterized by the deterioration of cartilage in joints.Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in patients with established RA and OA.Materials and Methods:A total of 200 patients reporting to the Department of Orthopaedics, KIMSDU, Karad were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 that included 100 patients with established RA diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification 1987 criteria and Group 2 that comprised 100 patients diagnosed with OA. Demographic profile, medical and dental history, oral hygiene practices, and smoking status of study participants were recorded. Periodontal status of the patients were evaluated using the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), Loe and Silness gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). On the basis of the CAL score periodontitis severity was defined as slight, moderate, and severe. Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were considered as a serological marker in RA. Serological tests were performed to measure RF and CRP. Periodontal parameters and serological tests were correlated.Results:This study reported 45% severe periodontitis prevalence in RA compared to OA group, which was 33%. Severity of periodontitis is significantly greater in RF positive RA group with mean CAL 5.38 mm compared to RF negative RA group with mean CAL 2.81 mm (P = 0.001). There was moderate positive correlation found between RF titer and severity of periodontitis (r = 0.311).Conclusion:The severity of periodontitis was significantly higher among the patients with established RA as compared to patients with OA. RF positive patients had higher periodontal disease compared to RF negative patients. There was an increase in the mean clinical attachment loss with increase in RF titer.

Association between interleukin-21 gene rs6822844 polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.

Controversial results concerning the association between a polymorphism rs6822844 in the interleukin (IL) 21 (IL-21) gene and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have existed. A meta-analysis to confirm above relationships is necessary to be performed immediately. We conducted a search in the PubMed database, covering all papers published up to 20 October 2018. Overall, six case–control studies with 3244 cases and 3431 healthy controls were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of this association. Publication bias was assessed with both Egger’s and Begg’s tests. After calculation, we found that IL-21 rs6822844 polymorphism could decrease RA risk in overall genetic models (allelic contrast: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62–0.97, P=0.024; TG versus GG: OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50–0.92, P=0.013, and dominant genetic model: OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55–0.94, P=0.016). Similarly, stratified analysis by race, source of control, significantly decreased association was found in Asians, Caucasians and hospital-based (HB) control source. Finally, in the subgroup analysis of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) status, poorly decreased relationship was detected between IL-21 rs6822844 polymorphism and RF negative and ACPA positive RA risk, respectively. No obvious evidence of publication bias was detected in overall analysis. In summary, our study indicated that IL-21 rs6822844 polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased RA susceptibility.

SAT0164 How Many Patients Followed up with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Diagnosis is Really Ra? 1987 ACR Classification Criteria Compared WİTh 2010 Acr/Eular Criteria for REAL RA PatİEnts in Turkey

BackgroundEarly diagnosis is very important for RA. The 2010 ACR/EULAR RA classification criteria has been mainly developed for this purpose. However, these new criteria may cause RA overdiagnosis.ObjectivesWe aimed to...

The role of testosterone and other hormonal factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis

Sex-specific incidence patterns and differences in the disease phenotype between men and women suggest that hormone-related factors are important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sex hormones have immunomodulatory properties that may be important in this context. Early menopause has been shown to be a predictor of RA, independent of factors such as smoking, and long-term breast feeding may reduce the risk of RA. Recently, a prospective study reported a negative association between testosterone levels and the risk of rheumatoid factor-negative RA in men. This is compatible with data indicating important anti-inflammatory effects from testosterone. These findings may improve our understanding of the RA disease process, and possibly also lead to new therapeutic strategies, including hormone substitution.

AB1259 Comparison of two assays for the determination of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) using a routine patient cohort

BackgroundAnti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) are an important serological marker in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A variety of different test systems are available for ACPA detection.ObjectivesThis study compares two...

Cardiovascular comorbidities antedating the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic hypertension among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the time of diagnosis, in comparison with age-specific and sex-specific non-RA...

The Diagnostic Value of N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase and Microalbumin Concentrations in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The Diagnostic Value of N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase and Microalbumin Concentrations in Rheumatoid ArthritisThe purpose of this research was to compare the diagnostic values of laboratory variables, to present quantitative evaluations of the diagnostic sifted test with reference to sensitivity and specificity, the predictive value of the positive and negative test and precision of the test for N-acetyl-β-D-glucosa-minidase (NAG), microalbumin, rheumatoid factor (RF), Creactive protein (CRP), DAS 28 index, in early diagnosis of untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to define the effect of untreated rheumatoid arthritis on glomerular and tubular function. Using a colorimetric assay for the determination of Nacetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and an immunoturbidimetric assay for the determination of urinary albumin, the samples of serum and urine have been examined in 70 participants (35 RA who were not treated, 35 healthy controls). RF was defined with the test for agglutination (Latex RF test) in the same participants. Out of 35 examined patients with RA, in 13 we found the presence of NAG enzymuria (sensitivity of the test 37.14%), while microalbuminuria appeared in 4 patients (sensitivity of the test 11.42%). RF appeared in 17 patients (sensitivity of the test 48.57%). Four patients were NAG and RF positive, while 3 patients were microalbuminuria and RF positive. Among 18 RF negative patients, 9 patients were NAG positive, and 1 patient presented with microalbuminuria. Among 17 RF positive RA, the presence of NAG was found in 4 patients, and the presence of microalbuminuria in 3 patients. Among 18 RF negative RA, NAG enzymuria appeared in 9 patients. Microalbuminuria was present in 1 patient. In the healthy control group, 8 patients were NAG positive, 2 patients were positive for microalbuminuria. RF appeared in 2 patients. NAG has higher sensitivity than microalbuminuria in the detection of asymptomatic renal lesions in untreated RA.

Vasculitides induced by TNFα antagonists: a study in 39 patients in France

TNFα antagonists are effective in the treatment of chronic inflammatory joint disease. Despite a good overall safety profile, they can induce a number of adverse effects, including autoimmunity and infections. A link between TNFα antagonists and vasculitides has been suggested. MethodsBetween December 2004 and January 2005, a nationwide survey was conducted among 1200 hospital-based rheumatologists and internists in France, who were asked to report cases of vasculitis in patients taking TNFα antagonists. ResultsThe survey identified 39 cases (32 women) of vasculitis during TNFα antagonist therapy. The joint disease was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 34 patients (including four without rheumatoid factor), juvenile idiopathic arthritis in two patients, ankylosing spondylitis in two patients, and psoriatic arthritis in one patient. Mean disease duration was 14.1±8.7 years. The TNFα antagonist was etanercept in 21 patients, infliximab in 15, adalimumab in 2, and another drug in 1; mean treatment duration was 9.6 months. The manifestations of vasculitis involved the skin (n=32); peripheral nervous system (n=9); kidney (n=7); central nervous system (n=3); pleura (n=2), pericardium (n=2); and the lung, gallbladder, and heart (n=1 each). Antinuclear factor (ANF) was present in 22 patients, hypocomplementemia in 6, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody in 5. Histology (30 biopsies from 27 patients) showed nonnecrotizing vasculitis in 12 patients, necrotizing vasculitis in 7, an inflammatory dermal infiltrate without vasculitis in 3, extravascular necrotic granulomas in 2, chilblain lupus in 1, and cicatricial fibro-inflammatory changes in 1. Renal biopsy in three patients showed extracapillary glomerulonephritis with IgA deposits (n=2) or active floccular necrosis against a background of glomerular sclerosis (n=1). TNFα antagonist therapy was stopped in 33 patients, among whom 18 recovered without further treatment and 14 required high-dose glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressant therapy, which ensured symptom resolution within a few weeks. The remaining patient died with multiple organ failures. DiscussionThe relative contributions of TNFα antagonist therapy and of the underlying disease to the development of vasculitis cannot be determined. Features that suggest a causal link between TNFα antagonists and vasculitis include the short time from TNFα antagonist initiation to vasculitis onset; the favorable response to discontinuation of TNFα antagonist therapy; and the development of systemic vasculitis in patients with rheumatoid factor-negative RA, in adults with juvenile-onset arthritis, and in patients with spondyloarthropathies.

Incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in Finland during 1980-1990.

To obtain information on the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis and on its recent trends in Finland. The study covered those subjects entitled to receive specially reimbursed medication for rheumatoid arthritis under the nationwide sickness insurance scheme in five out of 21 central hospital districts in Finland (population basis about one million adults) during three years: 1980, 1985, and 1990. The annual incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in 1980 and 1985, satisfying the American Rheumatism Association 1987 classification criteria, was 39/100,000 of the population > or = 16 years of age. The combined incidence of rheumatoid factor (RF) positive arthritis and RF negative polyarthritis was 46/100,000. A decline of approximately 40% occurred in the number of RF negative rheumatoid arthritis cases in 1990 compared with the earlier years. The declining trend was statistically significant (P = 0.008). The decline in incidence of RF negative rheumatoid arthritis in Finland may reflect changes in the environment specifically affecting the risk of RF negative disease.

Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients with clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but negative rheumatoid factor (RF) present a diagnostic challenge. The seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SNSA) syndromes, previously believed to be "rheumatoid arthritis variants," eg, Reiter's syndrome and psoriatic arthritis, are now considered to be genetically separate from RA and have been shown to be closely associated with HLA-B27. This syndromic discrimination has raised question as to the validity of RF negative RA (ie, seronegative RA). Demographic, clinical, and roentgenologic features of seronegative RA and SNSA are compared. Also, more common diagnoses that may stimulate seronegative RA are outlined according to onset age of arthritis. Recent concepts of RF positivity and HLA-DR4 correlations are reviewed. Multiple unknown factors contribute to the currently recognized syndrome of RA. Its diagnosis continues to rest on an aggregate of host, clinical, immunologic, and radiologic features.