Clinical and laboratory features of patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

ABSTRACT Background: The terms Spondyloarthritis and spondyloarthropathy (Spa) are used to define a group of diseases with related clinical characteristics and genetics. Aim: To report the clinical and demographic characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (USpA) and to evaluate the frequency of cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) positivity. Material and Methods: Two hundred patients with USpA or AS, 100 control patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 100 healthy volunteers were included. For each patient, their detailed medical histories, physical examination, whole blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-CCP, routine biochemical tests, and HLA-B27 test results were evaluated. ASDAS and BASDAI scores and morning stiffness were used to evaluate the disease activity. Results: The presenting symptom of 73 (73%) patients in the AS group and 58 (58%) patients in the USpA group was pain in axial joints. A family history of Spa was positive in 32 patients from both groups (32%). A positive HLA-B27 was found in 55% of the AS group and 25% of the USpA group (p < 0.01 for the difference between groups). The frequency of positive HLA-B27 was significantly higher in individuals with a family history of SpA (p = 0.022). A positive Anti-CCP was found in 56% of the RA group, a significantly higher frequency compared with other groups (p < 0.001). The frequency of positive Anti-CCP in patients in AS (9%) and USpA (6%) was significantly higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The frequency of anti-CCP positivity was higher in SpA patients than in healthy controls.

Introducción: Los términos espondiloartritis y espondiloatropatia (Spa) se usan para definir un grupo de enfermedades con características y genética relacionadas. Objetivo: Informar las características clínicas y demográficas de la espondilitis anquilosante (EA) y espondiloartritis indiferenciada (USpA) - y para evaluar la frecuencia de positividad del anticuerpo péptido citrulinado cíclico (anti-CCP). Material y Métodos: En este estudio observacional se incluyeron doscientos pacientes con USpA y EA, 100 pacientes control con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide (AR) y 100 voluntarios sanos. Se evaluó la historia clínica, exámen físico, recuentos sanguíneos completos, velocidad de sedimentación globular (ESR), proteína C reactiva (PCR), anti-CCP, pruebas bioquímicas de rutina y resultados de la prueba HLA-B27. Para evaluar la actividad de la enfermedad se utilizaron las puntuaciones ASDAS y BASDAI y la rigidez matutina. Resultados: El síntoma inicial de 73 (73%) pacientes en el grupo de EA y 58 (58%) pacientes en el grupo de USpA fue dolor en las articulaciones axiales. Treinta y dos pacientes de cada grupo (32%) tenían antecedentes familiares de SPA. HLA-B27 fue positivo en el 55% del grupo AS y el 25% del grupo USpA con una diferencia significativa entre los dos grupos (p < 0.001). La frecuencia de positividad HLA-B27 fue mayor en individuos con historia familiar de SpA (p = 0,02). Se encontraron anti-CCP positivos en el 56% del grupo con AR, una frecuencia significativamente mayor en comparación con otros grupos (p < 0,01). La frecuencia de anti-CCP positivo fue mayor los pacientes con AS (9%) y USpA (6%) que en el grupo sano (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: La frecuencia de positividad anti-CCP fue mayor en los grupos de SpA en comparación con los grupos control sanos.

Effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective before and after study / Efectos de la terapia periodontal no quirúrgica en pacientes con artritis reumatoide: estudio prospectivo de antes y después

Abstract Background: periodontal therapy has been suggested to have systemic effects. However, studies of periodontal therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients have produced controversial results. Aim: To compare the effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on biochemical markers of rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal parameters in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: a prospective before-and-after study was conducted that included 21 participants without and 29 participants with rheumatoid arthritis. Periodontal parameters, Porphyromonas gingivalis detection, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies were measured at baseline and three months after nonsurgical periodontal therapy and the changes were statistically assessed. Results: In general, both groups presented statistically significant improvement in periodontal parameters (p<0.05). There was an increase in the counts of P. gingivalis in both groups at three months. In addition, there was a reduction in levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and rheumatoid factor in participants with rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast, C-reactive protein levels increased in both groups but were higher in the rheumatoid arthritis group. Periodontal parameters in rheumatoid arthritis participants under disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs presented a slightly higher improvement (p <0.05). Conclusions: Nonsurgical periodontal therapy has similar improvements in periodontal parameters in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, nonsurgical periodontal therapy may benefit serum levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and rheumatoid factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. NCT04658615.

Resumen Antecedentes: se ha sugerido que la terapia periodontal tiene efectos sistémicos. Sin embargo, los estudios de la terapia periodontal en pacientes con artritis reumatoide han producido resultados controvertidos. Objetivo: comparar los efectos de la terapia periodontal no quirúrgica sobre los marcadores bioquímicos de la artritis reumatoide y los parámetros periodontales en pacientes con y sin artritis reumatoide. Métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo de antes y después que incluyó a 21 participantes sin artritis reumatoide y 29 participantes con artritis reumatoide. Se midieron los parámetros periodontales, detección de Porphyromonas gingivalis, proteína C reactiva, factor reumatoide y anticuerpos anti-proteína citrulinada al inicio del estudio y tres meses después de la terapia periodontal no quirúrgica y los cambios se evaluaron estadísticamente. Resultados: En general, ambos grupos presentaron mejoría estadísticamente significativa en los parámetros periodontales (p <0.05). Hubo un aumento en los recuentos de P. gingivalis en ambos grupos a los tres meses. Además, hubo una reducción en los niveles de anticuerpos anti-proteína citrulinada y factor reumatoide en participantes con artritis reumatoide. Por el contrario, los niveles de proteína C reactiva aumentaron en ambos grupos, pero fueron más altos en el grupo de artritis reumatoide. Los parámetros periodontales en los participantes con artritis reumatoide bajo fármacos antirreumáticos modificadores de la enfermedad presentaron una mejoría ligeramente mayor (p <0.05). Conclusiones: La terapia periodontal no quirúrgica tiene mejoras similares en los parámetros periodontales en pacientes con y sin artritis reumatoide. Además, la terapia periodontal no quirúrgica puede beneficiar los niveles séricos de anticuerpos anti-proteína citrulinada y factor reumatoide en pacientes con artritis reumatoide. NCT04658615.

Artrite reumatoide do tipo EORA com trombocitose significativa: relato de caso / Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis with significant thrombocytosis: a case report

Este relato teve como objetivo apresentar um caso de elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis associada à trombocitose reacional significativa. À admissão, o paciente apresentava quadro de poliartrite de pequenas e grandes articulações associado à rigidez matinal. Após exames solicitados, evidenciaram-se trombocitose de 1.697.000 cel./mm³ e anticorpos antipeptídeos citrulinados positivos, sendo diagnosticado com artrite reumatoide do tipo elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis.

This report aimed at presenting a case of elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis associated with significant reactive thrombocytosis. On admission, the patient presented polyarthritis of small and large joints associated with morning stiffness. After the performance of the requested tests, thrombocytosis of 1,697,000 cells/mm3 and positive anti-CCP were evidenced, and the patient was diagnosed with elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Artritis reumatoide, diagnóstico, evolución y tratamiento / Rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosis, evolution and treatment

La artritis reumatoide es la enfermedad inflamatoria más común en adultos con una alta prevalencia en la población general, invocando para su diagnóstico la presencia de al menos cuatro criterios de los orientados por el Colegio Americano de Reumatología, teniendo un papel protagónico en los últimos años la presencia de anticuerpos anti proteína citrulinada, así como los estudios de imágenes, que ayudan al diagnóstico de la artritis reumatoide temprana en el curso de los dos primeros años de evolución y sus orientaciones terapéuticas adecuadas, aspecto fundamental en la actualidad para evitar las lesiones erosivas irreversibles, que resultan en un marcado compromiso de la calidad de vida de los pacientes que la sufren, elementos que revisamos en este artículo de opinión(AU)

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory disease in adults with a high prevalence in the general population, invoking for its diagnosis the presence of at least four criteria of those guided by the American College of Rheumatology, having a leading role in recent years the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, as well as imaging studies, which help the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis in the course of the first two years of evolution and its appropriate therapeutic orientations, a fundamental aspect nowadays to avoid irreversible erosive lesions , which result in a marked commitment to the quality of life of patients who suffer from it, elements that we review in this opinion article(AU)

Elevated serum rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and active rheumatoid arthritis disease are not associated with chronic periodontitis

@#Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the joints with the involvement of other systems. Previous studies have demonstrated its association with chronic periodontitis (CP), a chronic inflammatory disease of tooth-supporting tissues. Positive rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) in RA patients have been found to be associated with CP. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of CP in RA patients, and to investigate the association of ACPA, RF status and RA disease activity with CP and non-CP RA patients. Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study involving 98 RA patients was conducted at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia. Clinical oral examination was carried out to determine the CP status of RA patients. RF, ACPA and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured, and the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) was assessed. Results: Forty-five patients (45.9%) were found to have CP (95% CI: 0.36-0.56). No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of positive RF (p=0.989) or ACPA (p=0.431) in CP and non-CP RA patients. There was also no significant association between active RA disease (DAS-28 score ≥3.2) and RF positivity in CP (p=0.927) and non-CP (p=0.431) RA patients as well as ACPA positivity in CP (p=0.780) and non-CP (p=0.611) RA patients. Conclusion: In our cohort of RA patients, we did not find significant associations between elevated RF, ACPA, or active RA disease with the presence of CP. There were also no significant associations between elevated RF or ACPA with active RA disease.

Early typing diagnostic and predictive value of AKA, APF and ACPA in juvenile idiopathic arthritis / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the early typing diagnostic and predictive value of anti-keratin antibodies(AKA), anti-perinuclear factor(APF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies(ACPA) in patients of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).@*Methods@#A retrospective study was conducted to collect 144 cases of JIA who were hospitalized in Capital Institute of Pediatrics from December 2013 to June 2016 and followed up for at least one year.Among them,66 were males (46%) and 78 were females (54%).The age at diagnosis was between 1 year 5 months to 15 years 9 months.144 patients were tested for AKA,ACPA,APF and TNFα upon admission. Chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used to compare the positive rates of three antibodies among different subtypes. Mann-Whitney nonparametric test and Chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used to analyze the data of prognosis between antibody-positive group and antibody-negative group in the course of disease.@*Results@#In 144 patients, 49(34%) were classified as systemic arthritis, 28 (19.4%) as polyarthritis, 61(42.3%) as oligoarthritis, and 6(4.2%) as enthesitis-associated arthritis. 52 cases (36.1%) were positive for one antibody or more antibodies of AKA/APF/ACPA at the early stage, 14(9.7%) were AKA positive, 44(30.6%) were ACPA positive and 12(8.3%) were APF positive. The positive rates of ACPA/AKA/APF antibodies were significantly different among different subtypes(χ2=33.863,26.860,14.395; P<0.01,<0.01,<0.05).The rates in polyarthritis were higher than those in systemic arthritis and oligoarthritis; In 95 children with non-systemic form, the level of TNFα in antibody-positive group (43 cases) was higher than that in antibody-negative group (52 cases) at the early stage(Z=4.785, P<0.01);144 patients were followed up for at least one year,the rates of patients who accepted biologic therapies were significantly different between antibody-positive group and antibody-negative group (50% vs 25%). So do the rates of patients with joint deformities (17.3% vs 2.2%) and with important joints involvement (hip and axis joints) (59.6% vs 14.1%) (χ2=9.249,10.875,32.392; P<0.01,<0.01,<0.01). Further more, the number of joints involved in the antibody-positive group (7.07±3.85) was significantly more than that in the antibody-negative group (2.31±1.64) (F=63.822, P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#AKA,APF and ACPA are important in the early typing diagnosis of JIA,and may be closely related to the prognosis of patients with JIA.

Early typing diagnostic and predictive value of AKA, APF and ACPA in juvenile idiopathic arthritis / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the early typing diagnostic and predictive value of anti-keratin antibodies(AKA), anti-perinuclear factor(APF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies(ACPA) in patients of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect 144 cases of JIA who were hospitalized in Capital Institute of Pediatrics from December 2013 to June 2016 and followed up for at least one year.Among them,66 were males (46％) and 78 were females (54％).The age at diagnosis was between 1 year 5 months to 15 years 9 months.144 patients were tested for AKA,ACPA,APF and TNFα upon admission. Chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used to compare the positive rates of three antibodies among different subtypes. Mann-Whitney nonparametric test and Chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used to analyze the data of prognosis between antibody-positive group and antibody-negative group in the course of disease. Results In 144 patients, 49(34％) were classified as systemic arthritis, 28 (19.4％) as polyarthritis, 61(42.3％) as oligoarthritis, and 6(4.2％) as enthesitis-associated arthritis. 52 cases (36.1％) were positive for one antibody or more antibodies of AKA/APF/ACPA at the early stage,14(9.7％) were AKA positive, 44(30.6％) were ACPA positive and 12(8.3％) were APF positive. The positive rates of ACPA/AKA/APF antibodies were significantly different among different subtypes(χ2=33.863,26.860,14.395;P<0.01,<0.01,<0.05).The rates in polyarthritis were higher than those in systemic arthritis and oligoarthritis;In 95 children with non-systemic form,the level of TNFαin antibody-positive group(43 cases)was higher than that in antibody-negative group(52 cases)at the early stage(Z=4.785, P<0.01);144 patients were followed up for at least one year,the rates of patients who accepted biologic therapies were significantly different between antibody-positive group and antibody-negative group (50％ vs 25％). So do the rates of patients with joint deformities(17.3％vs 2.2％)and with important joints involvement (hip and axis joints)(59.6％vs 14.1％)(χ2=9.249, 10.875, 32.392; P<0.01, <0.01, <0.01). Further more, the number of joints involved in the antibody-positive group (7.07 ± 3.85) was significantly more than that in the antibody-negative group (2.31 ± 1.64)(F=63.822,P<0.01). Conclusions AKA,APF and ACPA are important in the early typing diagnosis of JIA,and may be closely related to the prognosis of patients with JIA.

Combined detection of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective Antibodies against citrulline-containing peptides such as anti-perinuclear factor (APF), anti-keratin antibodies (AKA), anti-filaggrin antibodies (AFA) and anti-cyclic citruilinated peptide (CCP) antibodies are very specific in RA. In recent years, detection of APF, AKA and anti-CCP antibodies have been widely used in clinical practice. Studies on the combined detection of these ACPA in diagnosing RA are limited in number. The aim of this study is to detect combined examination of APF, AKA, and anti-CCP antibodies and compare their values in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. The significance of combined detection of these ACPAs in rheumatoid arthritis is also investigated. Methods Five hunndred and fifly-one patients who suffered from arthritic problems during the recent two years were selected from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Peking University People's Hospital. 304 of the patients were RA and 247 were diagnosed to have other rheumatic diseases based on the corresponding classification criteria. AKA and APF were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Anti-CCP antibodies were tested antibodies, AKA and APF tests for RA were 76.2%, 43.6%, and 34.5%, respectively, and the specificities were highest specificity (100%), but it had a rather low sensitivity (28.3%). When two of the three ACPA were positive, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of RA was 48.4% and 99.2%, respectively. When either anti-CCP antibodies, AKA, or APF was treated as an individual parameter, the sensitivity was slightly increased (77.3%). However, the specificity decreased to 94.7%. Conclusion Anti-CCP antibodies are the most helpful makers for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis among the three ACPAs which are used in clinical practice. The combined detection of anti-CCP antibodies, AKA, and APF cannot increase the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of rheumaotid arthritis.