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Type I collagen degradation does not diminish with RA disease duration
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the relation between type I collagen degradation and the duration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS The serum concentrations of cross linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) measured earlier in a community based series (90 patients) and a hospital based series (59 patients) were re-evaluated with reference to the duration of RA.
RESULTS The serum ICTP showed a positive correlation with the duration of the disease in the hospital based series (r s=0.40, p<0.01) but not in the community based one (r s=0.18, p=0.10).
CONCLUSIONS Type I collagen degradation predominantly reflecting pathological bone destruction does not seem to diminish in longlasting RA.
- ICTP
- radiography
- joint destruction
- rheumatoid arthritis