Anemia of Chronic Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Relationship with Disease Activities

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-93
Author(s):  
Md Rofiqul Islam ◽  
Md Shafiqul Islam ◽  
Mst Musarrat Sultana

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. Anemia is a common extra-articular manifestation and anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the most common form of anemia in rheumatoid arthritis that reduces the quality of life. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in Rheumatoid arthritis and to determine the relationship between ACD and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis patients and to Identify the relationship between ACD and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi. Consecutive 165 patients of rheumatoid arthritis with anemia who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Results: In this study mean age of these patients was 43.2±13.5 years. Male were 27(16.4%) and female 135(83.6%) with male: female ratio was 1:5.1. Most of the patients (29.1%) were illiterate, maximum participants (81.8%) were married and housewife 73.3%. DAS- 28 score (p< 0.001), tender and swollen joint count (p<0.001 for both tender and swollen joint count), ESR (p< 0.001) and HAQ score (p< 0.001) were significantly higher in anemic group of patients as compared to non-anemic. But there was no significant difference in terms of disease duration, morning stiffness and RF positivity between mentioned groups (p> 0.05). Comparing disease activity related characteristics between pure ACD and ACD with co-existent IDA sub group of patients, DAS 28 (p< 0.001), tender joint count (p= 0.03), swollen joint count (p= 0.03) and HAQ score (p= 0.03) were significantly higher in pure ACD patients than ACD and concomitant IDA patients with RA. But no significant difference was observed between two subgroups in terms of disease duration, morning stiffness, ESR and RF positivity (p> 0.05).Comparison of disease activity indices at different cut off levels between two groups and subgroups. Higher DAS- 28 score, tender joint count, swollen joint count and HAQ score was significantly found in anemic group of patients as compared to non-anemic. No significant difference was found between two groups at differing levels of morning stiffness (p= 0.337). Conclusions: ACD is frequently encountered with high frequency of iron deficiency anemia among rheumatoid arthritis patients and RA patients with anemic tend to have more severe disease than non-anemic RA patients. TAJ 2020; 33(2): 85-93

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-41

Background and objectives: Among several noninvasive techniques available, a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography is the widely used technique to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with elevated cardiovascular risk. The present study was undertaken to explore the clinical relationship between CIMT and disease activity in patients with RA. Methods: This study involved 50 adult patients with RA. Demographic, physical, systemic, and clinical data and history of the patients were recorded. Investigations, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, renal and liver function tests, RA factor, and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody tests were performed. CIMT was assessed using highresolution B-mode ultrasonography and the disease severity was assessed based on disease activity score (DAS) 28. Results: The mean age of the RA patients was 49.88 ± 12.12 years with male predilection. The mean duration, mean European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria score, and mean DAS 28 score in RA patients were 3.62 ± 3.25 years, 8.10 ± 1.58, and 4.91 ± 1.11, respectively. The mean CIMT observed in RA patients was 0.94 ± 0.31 cm. Significant difference was observed in the mean CIMT values of different variables, including duration of joint pain (P = 0.007), tender joint count (P < 0.001), swollen joint count (P < 0.001), EULAR criteria score (P < 0.001), and DAS 28 score (P < 0.001). Also, CIMT correlated positively with tender joint count (r = 0.711; P < 0.001), swollen joint count (r = 0.673; P < 0.001), EULAR criteria score (r = 0.611; P < 0.001), and DAS 28 score (r = 0.729; P < 0.001). Conclusion: A strong correlation was observed between CIMT and disease activity in patients with RA. Hence, CIMT can be a useful surrogate marker for detecting atherosclerosis in patients with RA.


2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 104-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dusan Mustur ◽  
Nada Vujasinovic-Stupar ◽  
Tatjana Ille

Introduction This is an open uncontrolled study about effects of physical treatment on disease activity parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Objective The aim of the study was to establish if there was any improvement of disease activity parameters after four weeks of physical and spa treatment. METHOD We compared morning stiffness, tender and swollen joint count, body pain level and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS-28) in patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, and assessed the effect of physical and spa treatment on those parameters. The research encompassed 109 patients: 69 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA group) and 40 with psoriatic arthritis (PA group). They were from Norway, staying for four weeks in June-September 2003. The groups served as their own controls - "one group pre-test post test" study. Disease activity measurement was made twice: at the beginning and at the end of treatment. The therapeutic set consisted of mud applications, kinesitherapy, mineral water pool and electrotherapy. Results At the beginning there was no significant difference in observed disease activity parameters between patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis (p>0.05). After four weeks of physical and spa treatment disease activity was significantly reduced in all observed parameters in both groups: morning stiffness (p<0.001 RA+PA), tender joint count (p<0.01 RA+PA), swollen joint count (p<0.01 RA; p<0.05 PA), body pain (p<0.01 RA+PA) and DAS-28 score (p<0.01 RA+PA). Conclusion Physical and spa treatment, together with climatic factors in Igalo, lead to a significant reduction of disease activity parameters of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. .


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash Joshi ◽  
Abhishek Agarwal ◽  
Sony Vyas ◽  
Ravindra Kumar

Objectives To analyse the prevalence of hypothyroidism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to elucidate its correlation with disease activity. Methods A total of 52 RA patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were assessed fully clinically and underwent routine laboratory investigation including thyroid function testing. Results Hypothyroidism (defined as having a TSH level >4.20 μIU/mL) was observed in 20/52 (38.4%). Erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) were found significantly elevated in patients with hypothyroidism compared to those without (36.3 ± 24.2 vs. 24.6 ± 9.0 mm/h). Disease activity parameters such as DAS-28-ESR, tender joint count; VAS scores were also significantly higher in the former. A significant correlation with serum TSH levels was observed with ESR and DAS-28-ESR. Conclusion Thyroid function test should be included in clinical evaluation of RA patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Shengnan Cao ◽  
Haojun Shi ◽  
Guodong Sun ◽  
Yuanzhen Chen ◽  
Guangjian Hou ◽  
...  

Interleukin-37 (IL-37) inhibits the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via downregulating proinflammatory cytokines. Accordingly, we performed an analysis to accurately assess the relationship between serum IL-37 cytokine levels and disease activity of RA. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were applied to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Correlation coefficient ( r ) was utilized to evaluate the relationship between IL-37 and disease activity of RA patients. Ten studies were included into the research. Functional analysis revealed elevated serum IL-37 concentrations in RA patients ( SMD = 1.61 , P < 0.00001 ). The relationship between serum IL-37 levels and disease activity was statistically significant (C-reactive protein: r = 1.47 , P = 0.0002 ; erythrocyte sedimentation rate: r = 1.55 , P < 0.00001 ; rheumatoid factor: r = 1.40 , P = 0.004 ; tumor necrosis factor⁃α: r = 1.64 , P = 0.0003 ; Disease Activity Score for 28 joints: r = 1.63 , P < 0.00001 ; tender joint count: r = 1.48 , P < 0.00001 ; and swollen joint count: r = 1.52 , P = 0.0003 ), but anti-CCP was not significant (anti-CCP: r = 0.98 , P = 0.72 ). In summary, these data are suggesting that the elevated serum level of IL-37 in RA is positively correlated with the disease activity of RA, suggesting a role for IL-37in the pathogenesis of RA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-320
Author(s):  
Mir Amir Aghdashi ◽  
Seyedmostafa Seyedmardani ◽  
Sholeh Ghasemi ◽  
Zohre Khodamoradi

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common type of chronic inflammatory arthritis with unknown etiology marked by a symmetric, peripheral polyarthritis. Calprotectin also can be used as a biomarker of disease activity in inflammatory arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the association between serum calprotectin level and severity of RA activity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 44 RA patients with disease flare-up. Serum samples were obtained from all patients to measure calprotectin, ESR, CRP prior to starting the treatment and after treatment period in the remission phase. Based on Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), disease activity was calculated. Results: Of 44 RA patients, 9(20.5%) were male and 35(79.5%) were female. The mean age of our cases was 53±1.6 years. Seventeen (38.6%) patients had moderate DAS28 and 27(61.4%) had high DAS28. The average level of calprotectin in the flare-up phase was 347.12±203.60 ng/ml and 188.04±23.58 ng/ml in the remission phase. We did not find any significant association between calprotectin and tender joint count (TJC; P=0.22), swollen joint count (SJC; P=0.87), and general health (GH; P=0.59), whereas significant associations were found between the calprotectin level and ESR (p=0.001) and DAS28 (p=0.02). The average calprotectin level in moderate DAS28 (275.21±217.96 ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in high DAS28 (392.4±183.88 ng/ml) (p=0.05). Conclusion: We showed that the serum level of calprotectin can be a useful and reliable biomarker in RA activity and its severity. It also can predict treatment response.


Author(s):  
Sahar A. Ahmed ◽  
Enas M. Darwish ◽  
Walaa A. Attya ◽  
Mai Samir ◽  
Mennatallah Elsayed ◽  
...  

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common progressive chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease which affects mostly small joints, causing pain, swelling, deformity, and disability. Although progress has been made in exploring RA nature, still there is a lot to know about the disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Aim of the Work: To investigate the role of serum anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and 14-3-3η in the diagnosis of RA compared to rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies, and highfrequency musculoskeletal ultrasound used to assess the disease activity and joint damage. Methods: Serum anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and 14-3-3η were measured using ELISA in 61 RA patients and 26 normal controls. RA Disease Activity Score (DAS 28), X-ray and musculoskeletal ultrasound (hands and feet), carotid ultrasound (Intima-Media Thickness IMT) were used in assessing the RA disease. Results: Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies were significantly elevated in RA patients 4.5 (4.1- 8.9 U⁄ml) compared to the control 3.2(1.9- 4.3 U⁄ml) (p< 0.001) but 14-3-3η showed no significant difference. There was a significant positive correlation between anti-carbamylated protein antibodies, 14-3-3η levels and disease activity score assessed by DAS 28, increased IMT measured by carotid duplex, total synovitis and total erosion score were assessed by musculoskeletal ultrasound. There was no correlation between RF and anti-CCP antibodies. Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies were found to have 66.7% sensitivity and 85.2% specificity in RA diagnosis, while 14- 3-3η had 51.9% sensitivity and 72.1% specificity. Conclusion: Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and 14-3-3η have a high sensitivity and specificity in RA diagnosis and had a correlation with the disease activity and joint damage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1360.1-1360
Author(s):  
M. Jordhani ◽  
D. Ruci ◽  
F. Skana ◽  
E. Memlika

Background:The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a great impact on world population due to morbidity, mortality and restriction measures in order to stop the progression of COVID-19.Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletic diseases, and especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, being one of the vulnerable classes of chronic patients, were recommended to follow the government’s rules1.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate DAS-28-ESR in patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after lockdown period.Methods:This is a multi-center observational study including 85 patients which were evaluated before and after lockdown for their disease activity score according to DAS-28-ESR score. They had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis more than 5 years ago. A thorough physical examination was performed before and after the lockdown period. It included examination of tender and swollen joints and patient’s global health. They were completed with all required laboratory data, including erythrosedimentation rate. For a more accurate calculation, DAS-28-ESR was used in an electronic version. Patients with other inflammatory or infective diseases were excluded from the study. All data were statistically evaluated using statistical tests such as t-student test.Results:The first group (the one before lockdown) had an average DAS-28-ESR of 4.7 while after the lockdown period, the average DAS-28-ESR was 5.16.After statistically evaluating all data, it was found that there exists a significant difference between DAS-28-ESR score before and after COVID-19 lockdown (p=0.0011).Conclusion:Our study showed that lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic, has aggravated disease activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This may be consequence of various causes such as physical inactivity and difficulty to follow-up or to take the medication properly.References:[1]Landewé RB, Machado PM, Kroon F, et al, EULAR provisional recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020;79:851-858.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1848.2-1849
Author(s):  
M. A. Mortada ◽  
H. Eitta ◽  
R. Elmallah ◽  
A. Radwan ◽  
A. Elsaman

Background:Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (MSUS) is now a widely used tool for monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although there are many proposed sets of composite scores, a fixed set of joints may not be an ideal tool to assess a disease like RA, which affects many joints and tendons in different presentations. In previous study (1) U9 score was proven to be correlated with disease activity parameters.Objectives:To determine whether US assessment using U9 score is useful for monitoring response to treatment for RA or not?Methods:A prospective, multicenter study were conducted in period from July 2019 to December 2019. All recruited RA patients were subjected to: Disease activity assessment by clinical disease activity indices (CDAI and DAS28 ESR). Functional status assessment by (HAQ) and ultrasonographic assessment using U9 score which include 8 joints (bilateral wrists,2ndMCP,3RDMCP and knees) plus most clinically affected joint or tendon (one joint or one tendon). Most clinically affected joints from 48 joints. Any affected tendons could be choosing. All targeted joints were evaluated according to EULAR guidlines and by EULAR/ OMERACT combined score (0-3). Targeted tendons were scored (0-3).All patients received their treatment (biologic and non biologic DMARDs) according to the decision of the treating physicians. No specific therapy is needed. CDAI and DAS28 ESR, HAQ and U9 score were repeated after 3 months to detect the response to change after receiving the therapy.Results:One hundred and forty patients (23.6% were male) with mean age 39.26±11.30 were recruited from 4 tertiary referral university hospitals.There was a significant difference (<0.001) between the first and second visits as regards clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic parameters. DAS 28 decreased form (5.29±1.21) to (3.95±0.99), ESR decreased from (42.12±15.24) to (26.84±12.32), HAQ2 improved from (0.652±0.350) to (0.510±0.237) and U9 total US score decreased from (13.56±5.18) to (8.02±4.28).There was significant correlation between U9 ultrasonographic score and clinical parameters at both visits (table 1).Table 1.correlation between U9 ultrasonographic score and clinical parameters.U9 at 1stvisitU9 at 2ndvisitDAS-28Pearson Correlation(P value)0.806<0.0010.790<0.001CDAIPearson Correlation(P value)0.787<0.0010.773<0.001HAQPearson Correlation(P value)0.431<0.0010.317<0.001We found that the most suitable cut-off value of U9 score to predict high disease activity was 11.5 (sensitivity 85.7% and specificity 80.6%), cut off value for moderate disease activity was 5.5(sensitivity 83.2% and specificity 88%) and cut off value for low disease activity was 3.5 (sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity 57.1%). These results are summarized in the following table:Conclusion:U9 ultrasonographic score is very useful method for evaluating the monitoring the response of treatment.References:[1]Mortada, et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2019;78:1009.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman A. Baraka ◽  
Mona G. Balata ◽  
Shereen H. Ahmed ◽  
Afaf F. Khamis ◽  
Enas A. Elattar

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 112.1-112
Author(s):  
L. Brandt ◽  
H. Schulze-Koops ◽  
T. Hügle ◽  
M. J. Nissen ◽  
H. Paul ◽  
...  

Background:The therapeutic aim for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to control disease activity and prevent radiographic progression. Various clinical scores are utilized to describe disease activity in RA patients. The DAS28 score can define states of low disease activity (LDA) and remission. Despite achieving LDA or remission, radiographic progression may nevertheless occur. However, the rates and frequency of this occurrence have not been analyzed in detail.Objectives:To describe the frequency and rate of radiographic progression in patients with persistent LDA or remission.Methods:Analysis of RA patients from the SCQM cohort. Persistent LDA or remission were defined as DAS 28 ≤3.2 or <2.6 respectively, at two subsequent follow up time points in the database. We included patients with at least two sets of radiographs within these intervals of LDA and/or remission. Radiographic progression was measured with the Ratingen-score (range 0-190), which describes joint erosions numerically. Repair was defined as an improvement in the Ratingen score >5 points/year and progression as >2 or >5 points change in the Ratingen score within one year.Results:Among 10’141 RA patients, 4’342 episodes of remission occurred in 3’927 patients with 1’776 sets of X rays available within these episodes. Similarly, 8’136 episodes of LDA in 6’765 patients and 2’358 sets of X rays were present within these intervals. For patients in LDA or remission, rates of repair were 5.5% and 4.8%, respectively, while for radiographic progression >5 points in the Ratingen score/year were 10.3% in both groups and for >2 points change of Ratingen score/year were 27.7 and 25.4%, respectively).No differences for demographic factors or measures of disease activity, rheumatoid factor or ACPA were found comparing patients with radiographic progression or non-progression despite LDA or remission at the beginning of the episode of LDA and/or remission.Interestingly, 42.9% of patients in LDA with progression of >5 points in the Ratingen score/year were current smokers vs 29.4% among the non-progressors (X2 = 6.55, p = 0.01). This significant difference vanished when the cut-off for radiographic progression was set at >2 points yearly change in Ratingen score or in patients in remission.Conclusion:Radiographic progression despite LDA or remission are more frequent than expected. No differences in radiographic progression were found comparing LDA and remission suggesting that the goal of LDA is appropriate. Smoking seems to be an independent risk factor for radiographic progression despite LDA. Why the effect of smoking could was not demonstrated in patients in remission, remains unclear.Disclosure of Interests:Lena Brandt: None declared, Hendrik Schulze-Koops: None declared, Thomas Hügle Consultant of: GSK, Abbvie, Pfizer, Jansen, Novartis, Eli Lilly., Michael J. Nissen Consultant of: Abbvie, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer, Hasler paul Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Rudiger Muller Consultant of: AbbVie, Novartis, Grant/research support from: Gebro


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