Patients with obesity have more inflamed joints and higher CRP levels during the disease course in ACPA-positive RA but not in ACPA-negative RA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obese RA patients have higher disease activity scores (DAS). Previous research showed that obese RA patients have higher tender joint count (TJC) and VAS general health. However, it remains unclear whether DAS components measuring local and systemic inflammation (swollen joint count (SJC), CRP) are increased and if this is present in the total RA population or confined to an ACPA subgroup. As ACPA is suggested to enhance inflammatory responses, we hypothesized that the association of obesity with SJC and CRP is present especially in ACPA-positive RA. We therefore studied associations of obesity with courses of DAS components in ACPA subgroups.

Methods

We studied 649 RA patients (291 ACPA-positive), included in the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic. Five-year courses o

SUBMITTER: Hollander NKD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10848383 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature