scholarly journals Laboratory and febrile features after joint surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 654-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hirao ◽  
J Hashimoto ◽  
H Tsuboi ◽  
A Nampei ◽  
H Nakahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Remarkable Change ◽  
Maximum Increase ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Joint Surgery ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Groups

Objectives:To understand the acute phase responses to surgical intervention in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with the anti-interleukin (IL)6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab.Methods:In a retrospective 1:1 pair-matched case-control study, 22 tocilizumab-treated RA cases and 22 cases treated with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and matched for type of surgery, age and sex were evaluated for body temperature every day, and blood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts on days −1, 1, 3 and weeks 1 and 2 after joint surgery. Safety issues were also monitored.Results:No complications of infection or delay of wound healing occurred in either patient group. Tocilizumab partially, but significantly, suppressed the increase in body temperature on postoperative days 1 and 2, compared with DMARDs (average (SD) maximum increase in temperature was 0.45 (0.1)°C in the tocilizumab group and 0.78 (0.1)°C in the DMARD group; p<0.01). Tocilizumab completely suppressed the increase in CRP after surgery, whereas all cases treated with DMARDs showed a significant increase of CRP at postoperative day 1 (5.5 (0.6) mg/dl; p<0.001). WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts showed no remarkable change after surgery, and there was no significant difference in any cell counts between the patient groups.Conclusions:Within this small number of cases, safe operations on patients were performed during tocilizumab treatment. Tocilizumab suppressed fever and increase of CRP after surgery, whereas there was no influence on the transition in number of leukocytes. This characteristic postoperative response should be considered during tocilizumab treatment.

scholarly journals POS0495 LARGE JOINT DISEASE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND THE ROLE OF RHEUMATOID FACTOR. RESULTS FROM THE EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS STUDY

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 480-480
Author(s):  
S. S. Zhao ◽  
E. Nikiphorou ◽  
A. Young ◽  
P. Kiely
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Rheumatoid Factor ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Treat To Target ◽  
Joint Involvement ◽  
Aggressive Treatment ◽  
Joint Surgery ◽  
Large Joint ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Over Time

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is classically described as a symmetric small joint polyarthritis with additional involvement of large joints. There is a paucity of information concerning the time course of damage in large joints, such as shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle, from early to established RA, or of the influence of Rheumatoid Factor (RF) status. There is a historic perception that patients who do not have RF follow a milder less destructive course, which might promote less aggressive treatment strategies in RF-negative patients. The historic nature of the Ealy Rheumatoid Arthritis Study (ERAS) provides a unique opportunity to study RA in the context of less aggressive treatment strategies.Objectives:To examine the progression of large joint involvement from early to established RA in terms of range of movement (ROM) and time to joint surgery, according to the presence of RF.Methods:ERAS was a multi-centre inception cohort of newly diagnosed RA patients (<2 years disease duration, csDMARD naive), recruited from 1985-2001 with yearly follow-up for up to 25 (median 10) years. First line treatment was csDMARD monotherapy with/without steroids, favouring sulphasalazine for the majority. Outcome data was recorded at baseline, at 12 months and then once yearly. Patients were deemed RF negative if all repeated assessments were negative. ROM of individual shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle and hindfeet joints was collected at 3, 5, 9 and 12-15 years. The rate of progression from normal to any loss of ROM, from years 3 to 14 was modelled using GEE, adjusting for confounders. Radiographs of wrists taken at years 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 were scored according to the Larsen method. Change in the Larsen wrist damage score was modelled using GEE as a continuous variable, while the erosion score was dichotomised into present/absent. Surgical procedure data were obtained by linking to Hospital Episodes Statistics and the National Joint Registry. Time to joint surgery was analysed using multivariable Cox models.Results:A total of 1458 patients from the ERAS cohort were included (66% female, mean age 55 years) and 74% were RF-positive. The prevalence of any loss of ROM, from year 3 through to 14 was highest in the wrist followed by ankle, knee, elbow and hip. The proportion of patients at year 9 with greater than 25% loss of ROM was: wrist 30%, ankle 12%, elbow 7%, knee 7% and hip 5%. Odds of loss of ROM increased over time in all joint regions, at around 7 to 13% per year from year 3 to 14. There was no significant difference between RF-positive and RF-negative patients (see Figure 1). Larsen erosion and damage scores at the wrists progressed in all patients; annual odds of developing any erosions were higher in RF-positives OR 1.28 (95%CI 1.24-1.32) than RF-negatives OR 1.17 (95%CI 1.09-1.26), p 0.013. Time to surgery was similar according to RF-status for the wrist and ankle, but RF-positive cases had a lower hazard of surgery at the elbow (HR 0.37, 0.15-0.90), hip (HR 0.69, 0.48-0.99) and after 10 years at the knee (HR 0.41, 0.25-0.68). Adjustment of the models for Lawrence assessed osteoarthritis of hand and feet radiographs did not influence these results.Figure 1.Odds of progression to any loss of ROM (from no loss of ROM) per year in the overall population and stratified by RF status.Conclusion:Large joints become progressively involved in RA, most frequently affecting the wrist followed by ankle, which is overlooked in some composite disease activity indices. We confirm a higher burden of erosions and damage at the wrists in RF-positive patients, but have not found RF-negative patients to have a better prognosis over time with respect to involvement of other large joints. In contrast RF-negative patients had more joint surgery at the elbow, hip, and knee after 10 years. There is no justification to adopt a less aggressive treatment strategy for RF-negative RA. High vigilance and treat-to-target approaches should be followed irrespective of RF status.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Interleukin-37 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine: does its relation to disease activity suggest its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis therapy?

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman A. Baraka ◽  
Mona G. Balata ◽  
Shereen H. Ahmed ◽  
Afaf F. Khamis ◽  
Enas A. Elattar
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Background This study aimed to measure the serum and synovial interleukin (IL)-37 levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (PKOA) and healthy controls and to detect its relation to RA disease activity. Results This cross-sectional study included 50 RA patients with a mean age of 40.24 ± 8.62 years, 50 patients with PKOA with a mean age of 56.69 ± 4.21, and 40 healthy controls with a mean age of 41.75 ± 7.38 years. The mean serum IL-37 level in the RA patients (382.6 ± 73.97 pg/ml) was statistically significantly (P < 0.001) the highest among the studied groups; however, it showed a non-significant difference between the PKOA patients (70.38 ± 27.49 pg/ml) and the healthy controls (69.97 ± 25.12 pg/ml) (P > 0.94). Both serum and synovial IL-37 levels were significantly positively correlated with disease activity scores (r = 0.92, P< 0.001 and r = 0.85, P < 0.001), tender joint counts (r = 0.83, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001 ), swollen joint counts (r = 0.72, P < 0.001 and r = 0.60, P < 0.001), visual analog scale (r = 0.82, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.75, P < 0.001 and r = 0.65, P < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.93, P < 0.001 and r = 0.79, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion Serum and synovial IL-37 were significantly elevated in the RA patients, and they were closely correlated. Being less invasive, the serum IL-37 could be a marker of disease activity and could reflect the effective disease control by drugs. Having an anti-inflammatory effect could not suggest IL-37 as the key player to control inflammation alone, but its combination with other anti-proinflammatory cytokines could be investigated.

scholarly journals Serum Cystatin C Levels in COPD: Potential Diagnostic Value and Relation Between Respiratory Functions

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selda Telo ◽  
Mutlu Kuluöztürk ◽  
Figen Deveci ◽  
Gamze Kırkıl ◽  
Önsel Öner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystatin C ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Serum Urea ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Serum Cystatin C ◽  
Serum Cystatin ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Significant Difference

SummaryBackground:The aim of this study was to determine the level of serum cystatin C (CysC) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) during exacerbation and stable periods and to investigate its potential diagnostic value and the relationship between CysC levels and the pulmonary function test (PFT).Methods:One hundred twenty-six patients with COPD (68 in stable periods, 58 during exacerbation periods) and 50 healthy subjects were included in the study. PFT, body mass index (BMI), white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum urea and creatinine levels were evaluated in both groups of patients. CysC levels were measured in all participants.Results:Serum CysC levels were statistically higher in both COPD groups than the control group (p<0.001 for both) although there was no statistically significant difference between COPD groups (p>0.05). CysC levels showed negative correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and a positive correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with stable COPD. There was a positive correlation between serum CysC levels and serum urea, creatinine, CRP levels in patients with COPD exacerbation (r=0.333, p=0.011; r=0.260, p=0.049; r=0.414, p<0.01 respectively). When stable COPD and control groups were evaluated, serum CysC had an area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.951 (0.909–0.994 95% CI: p<0.001).Conclusions:Our results showed that CysC levels increased in both COPD groups. Increased CysC levels may be related with lung function decline and inflammation in COPD patients. In addition, CysC levels may be a potential indicator for the diagnosis of COPD.

Endometrial uNK cell counts do not predict successful implantation in an IVF population

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 2456-2466 ◽  
Author(s):  
J F Donoghue ◽  
P Paiva ◽  
W T Teh ◽  
L M Cann ◽  
C Nowell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Density ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Unk Cells ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Unk Cell ◽  
Implantation Success

Abstract Study question Are uterine natural killer (uNK) cell numbers and their distribution relative to endometrial arterioles altered in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) compared to women with embryo implantation success (IS)? Summary answer uNK cell numbers and their distribution relative to endometrial arterioles are not significantly different in women with RIF compared to women in whom embryo implantation occurs successfully following IVF. What is already known uNK cells are regulators of decidual angiogenesis and spiral arteriole remodelling during early pregnancy. Although some studies have shown that uNK cell numbers may be altered in women with RIF, the methods used to measure uNK cell numbers have proven inconsistent, making reproduction of these results difficult. It is unclear, therefore, whether the results reported so far are reproducible. Moreover, it is not known how uNK cell numbers may impact IVF outcomes. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, uNK cell numbers are often evaluated as a prognostic criterion in women undergoing assisted reproductive procedures. Study design, size, duration Endometrial pipelle biopsies were collected 6–8 days post-LH surge in natural cycles from women with RIF (n = 14), women with IS (n = 11) and women with potential RIF at the time of the study (PRIF; n = 9) from 2013 to 2015. Participants/materials, setting, methods uNK cells (i.e. CD56+ and/or CD16+ phenotypes) and their distribution relative to endometrial arterioles were investigated by standard immunohistochemistry protocols and quantified using Aperio ScanScopeXT images digitized by ImageJ and deconvoluted into binary images for single cell quantification using a Gaussian Blur and Yen algorithm. Main results and the role of chance There was no significant difference in the cell density of CD56+ or CD16+ uNK cells in women with RIF compared to women with IS or PRIF. There was a higher proportion of uNK cells in the distal regions compared to the regions closest to the arterioles in all patient groups. Further, we identified a significant reduction in uNK cell density in women who had a previous pregnancy compared to those who had not, regardless of their current implantation status. Large scale data Not applicable. Limitations, reasons for caution Spiral arterioles could not always be accurately identified by digital image analysis; therefore, all endometrial arterioles were selected and analysed. Patient numbers for the study were low. However, as the clinical phenotypes of each patient were well defined, and endometrial dating was accurately determined by three independent pathologists, differences between patient groups with respect to the uNK numbers and distribution should have been measurable if uNK cell counts were to be useful as a prognostic marker of RIF. Wider implications of the findings Our findings demonstrate that CD56+ and CD16+ uNK cell numbers are not significantly different in women with RIF in a typical cohort of women undergoing IVF. Further, prior pregnancy was associated with a significantly reduced number of uNK cells in both the RIF and IS patient groups, suggestive of a long-term pregnancy induced suppression of uNK cells. Combined, these findings do not support the clinical value of using uNK cell numbers as a prognostic indicator of implantation success with IVF treatment. Study funding/competing interest(s) Funding for this work was provided by Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation. P.P. was supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship [TF 11/14] and W.T.T. was supported by an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship [1055814]. The authors do not have any competing interests with this study.

scholarly journals Elevated Serum IgG4 Defines Specific Clinical Phenotype of Rheumatoid Arthritis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le-Feng Chen ◽  
Ying-Qian Mo ◽  
Jian-Da Ma ◽  
Ling Luo ◽  
Dong-hui Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Clinical Phenotype ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Serum Igg4 ◽  
Target Disease

Objectives. To explore the correlation of serum IgG4 (sIgG4) with clinical manifestations or therapeutic response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods. Consecutive 136 RA patients were recruited and followed up at regular interval. SIgG4 was detected by immunonephelometry. Serial synovial tissue sections from 46 RA patients were stained immunohistochemically for IgG4.Results. Forty-six percent of 136 RA patients had elevated sIgG4. Patients with elevated sIgG4 had higher sIgG4/sIgG ratio, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies than those with normal sIgG4 (allP<0.05). Among 45 patients who received methotrexate and leflunomide therapy, 50% (9/18) of patients with elevated sIgG4 and 85% (23/27) of patients with normal sIgG4 reached therapeutic target (disease activity score of 28 joints < 3.2) at 6-month visit (χ2=6.508,P=0.011). IgG4-positive plasma cell count correlated positively with sIgG4, total synovitis score, and CD3-, CD20-, and CD38-positive cell counts (allP<0.05).Conclusions. Our results showed that elevated sIgG4 in RA is common and disproportional to total IgG and RA with elevated sIgG4 may be a specific clinical phenotype with higher disease activity, higher level of autoantibodies, and poor response to methotrexate and leflunomide therapy.

scholarly journals The Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infection in Chinese Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis in Shanghai

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Lin Xie ◽  
Zhuo-Ling Li ◽  
Zhen Xu ◽  
Huan-Ru Qu ◽  
Luan Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Serum Albumin ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Active Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Chinese Patients ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts

Objective. To analyse the potential risk factors of nosocomial infections in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A total of 2452 active RA patients at Hospitals in Shanghai between January 2009 and February 2011 were analyzed. Their demographic and clinical characteristics were compared with those without infection, and the potential risk factors were determined by logistic regression analysis. Results. Multivariate analysis indicated the gender (OR=0.70, 95% CI 0.53–0.92), duration in hospital (OR=1.03, 95%CI 1.01–1.05), number of organs involved (OR=0.82, 95%CI 0.72–0.92), number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs ((DMARDs) (OR=1.22, 95%CI 1.061–1.40)), corticosteroid therapy (OR=1.02, 95%CI 1.01–1.03), peripheral white blood cell counts ((WBC) (OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.00–1.08)), levels of serum albumin (OR=0.98, 95%CI 0.97–0.99), and C-reactive protein ((CRP) (OR=1.03, 95%CI 1.01–1.04)) that were significantly associated with the risk of infections. Conclusion. The female patients, longer hospital stay, more organs involved, more DMARDs, corticosteroid usage, high counts of WBC, lower serum albumin, and higher serum CRP were independent risk factors of infections in active RA patients.

scholarly journals Actual Persistence of Abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of the French-Ric Network

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Hugues Salmon ◽  
Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly ◽  
Vincent Goëb ◽  
Lukshe Kanagaratnam ◽  
Pascal Coquerelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Therapy Group ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Antirheumatic Drugs ◽  
Failure Group ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Persistence Rate ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Multi Center Study

Objectives: Data on abatacept (ABA) persistence in routine practice are limited. We aimed to study ABA persistence rates at 12 months, according to the date of initiation, and to analyze the factors associated with persistence at 12 months. Methods: We performed an observational, ambispective, multi-center study from January 2008 to July 2016, based on the French-RIC Network. We defined three groups of patients followed up for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the date of initiation of ABA therapy: Group 1 (from 2007 to 31 July 2010: ABA indicated after anti-TNF failure); Group 2 (from 1 August 2010 to 31 March 2014: ABA indicated after conventional antirheumatic drugs failure); Group 3 (from 1 April 2014 to 1 July 2016: ABA available by the subcutaneous injection). Results: Among 517 patients who initiated ABA, drug persistence at 12 months was 68%. The only factor significantly associated with persistence rate at 12 months was C-reactive protein (CRP) < 10 mg/L at ABA initiation (odds ratio (OR) 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.3–0.9; p = 0.0016). There was no significant difference in drug persistence according to date of initiation, the line of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) therapy or the route of administration. Conclusions: In routine practice, over time, ABA has come to be initiated earlier in the course of therapy for RA in France. Abatacept persistence is similar to that reported in the Orencia Rheumatoid Arthritis (ORA) registry, and does not differ according to the date of initiation. The only factor found to be associated with the persistence rate at 12 months was CRP < 10 mg/L at ABA initiation.

scholarly journals DNA Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Age-Dependent Increase in the Lipid Peroxidation-Derived DNA Adduct, Heptanone-Etheno-2′-Deoxycytidine

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masako Ogawa ◽  
Tomonari Matsuda ◽  
Atsushi Ogata ◽  
Toshimitsu Hamasaki ◽  
Atsushi Kumanogoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Dna Adducts ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Dna Damages ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Whole Blood Cells

Objective. To evaluate what types of DNA damages are detected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods. The DNA adducts such as 8-oxo-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), 1,N6-etheno-2′-deoxyadenosine (εdA), and heptanone-etheno-2′-deoxycytidine (HεdC) in genomic DNAs, derived from whole blood cells from 46 RA patients and 31 healthy controls, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and their levels in RA patients and controls were compared. In addition, correlation between DNA adducts and clinical parameters of RA was analyzed.Results. Compared with controls, the levels of HεdC in RA were significantly higher (P<0.0001) and age dependent (r= 0.43,P< 0.01), while there was no significant difference in 8-oxo-dG andεdA accumulation between RA patients and controls. HεdC levels correlated well with the number of swollen joints (r= 0.57,P< 0.0001) and weakly with the number of tender joints (r= 0.26,P= 0.08) of RA patients, while they did not show a significant association with serological markers such as C-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase 3.Conclusion. These findings indicate that HεdC may have some influence on the development of RA and/or its complications.

scholarly journals Decrease in immunoglobulin free light chains in patients with rheumatoid arthritis upon rituximab (anti-CD20) treatment correlates with decrease in disease activity

2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 2137-2144 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Groot Kormelink ◽  
J Tekstra ◽  
R M Thurlings ◽  
M H J Boumans ◽  
K Vos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Light Chains ◽  
Free Light Chains ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Effect Of Treatment ◽  
Anti Cd20 ◽  
Relationship Of

ObjectivesImmunoglobulin (Ig) free light chains (FLCs) are short-lived B cell products that contribute to inflammation in several experimental disease models. In this study, FLC concentrations in inflamed joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as compared to patients with osteoarthritis were investigated. In addition, the relationship of FLCs and disease activity upon B cell depletion (rituximab) in patients with RA was studied.MethodsSynovial fluid (SF) and tissue from patients with RA were analysed for local presence of FLCs using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. In addition, FLC concentrations were measured (at baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment) in 50 patients with RA with active disease who were treated with rituximab. Changes in FLCs were correlated to changes in disease activity and compared to alterations in IgM, IgG, IgA, IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) and IgG-anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) concentrations.ResultsFLCs were detected in synovial tissue from patients with RA, and high FLC concentrations were found in SF from inflamed joints, which positively correlate with serum FLC concentrations. Serum FLC concentrations significantly correlated with disease activity score using 28 joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein, and changes in FLC correlated with clinical improvement after rituximab treatment. Moreover, effect of treatment on FLC concentrations discriminated clinical responders from non-responders, whereas IgM-RF and IgG-ACPA significantly decreased in both patient groups.ConclusionsFLCs are abundantly present in inflamed joints and FLC levels correlate with disease activity. The correlation of FLC concentrations and disease activity indicates that FLCs may be relevant biomarkers for treatment response to rituximab in patients with RA and suggests that targeting FLC may be of importance in the therapy of RA.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document