Circulating anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, cytokines and genotype as biomarkers of response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To measure circulating anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) and cytokines pre- and 6 months post-therapy as a strategy to predict and optimize responses to traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in early RA, which is an unmet need in developing countries.

Patients and methods

A cohort of 140 predominantly (88.5 %) black female South African patients with early RA was treated with synthetic DMARDs, mostly methotrexate (MTX) alone, or in combination with low-dose oral corticosteroids (CS). Circulating ACPA and a panel of circulating cytokines/chemokines/growth factors were measured at baseline and after 6 months of therapy in relation to disease activity and Shared Epitope (SE).

Results

Following 6 months of therapy, the median sim

SUBMITTER: Ally MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4446850 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature