Rheumatoid Arthritis: Ramos MP

Lemos A, Ramos MP, Furtado MJ, Carvalho C, Santos MJ, Silva JC, Ventura H. · Laboratório de Imunologia, Serviço de Patologia Clinica. · Acta Reumatol Port. · Pubmed #18159201 links to  free full text

Abstract: The presence of IgM class rheumatoid factor RF-M in the serum is one of the ACR criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis RA . OBJECTIVES: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of two diagnostic markers for RA in Portuguese patients the 2nd generation anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies anti-CCP2 and the RF-M. METHODS: Serum samples from 56 patients with established RA 44 women and 12 men mean disease duration 9 5 -8 5 years were evaluated for the presence of anti-CCP2 and RF-M. Results were compared with 93 samples from a control group with identical demographic characteristics 43 from patients with spondylarthropaties and 50 from healthy blood donors . The determination of anti-CCP2 antibodies was performed by enzymatic fluroimunoassay and RF-M was measured by microElisa. RESULTS: Anti-CCP2 antibodies were positive in 40 patients with RA 71 4 at a mean antibody concentration of 350 5 UA ml range 11-1670 UA ml and negative in all controls. The RF-M was positive in 34 patients with RA 60 7 in 4 patients with spondylarthropaties 9 3 and in one blood donor 2 . The sensitivity specificity positive predictive value and negative predictive value for RF-M was 60 7 90 7 89 5 and 63 9 and for anti-CCP2 was 71 4 100 100 and 72 9 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-CCP2 assay showed an excellent specificity and a global performance superior to that of the RF-M test in this population with established RA.

García-Poma A, Segami MI, Mora CS, Ugarte MF, Terrazas HN, Rhor EA, García E, Ramos MP, Alva M, Castañeda I, Chung CP. · Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. · Clin Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17340047 No free full text.

Abstract: Obesity is a modifiable major cause of morbidity and mortality in the general population, but little is known about the association of obesity and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thus, we set out a study to test the hypothesis that obesity is independently associated with lower quality of life in patients with RA. Three hundred and fifty nine patients with RA underwent an interview, physical exam, and all clinical charts were reviewed. Based on body mass index (BMI), patients were classified as normal (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)). Quality of life was quantified with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36). Data obtained included demographic variables, extra-articular disease, comorbidities, presence of X-ray erosions, rheumatoid factor, and depression. The association between obesity and quality of life was examined with the use of multiple lineal regression models. One hundred and seventy-two patients (47.9%) had normal BMI, 126 (35.1%) were overweight, and 61 patients (17%) were obese. Obese patients had lower quality of life (30.8 +/- 18.1) than overweight patients (43.3 +/- 20.1) and patients with normal weight (43.8 +/- 22.2), P < 0.001. The association between obesity and impaired quality of life was confirmed with a linear regression model (Coef = -12.9, P < 0.001) and remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, disease activity, extra-articular disease, comorbidities, X-ray erosions, presence of rheumatoid factor, depression, education, and disease duration (Coef = -5.3, P = 0.039). In conclusion, obesity is independently associated with the impaired quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.