PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - N A Graudal
AU  - M Svenson
AU  - U Tarp
AU  - P Garred
AU  - A-G Jurik
AU  - K Bendtzen
TI  - Autoantibodies against interleukin 1α in rheumatoid arthritis: association with long term radiographic outcome
AID  - 10.1136/ard.61.7.598
DP  - 2002 Jul 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 598--602
VI  - 61
IP  - 7
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/61/7/598.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/61/7/598.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2002 Jul 01; 61
AB  - Objectives: To investigate the possible association of interleukin 1α autoantibodies (IL1α aAb) with the long term course of joint erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Serum samples from 176 patients with RA included in a prospective study over 30 years were analysed for IL1α aAb by binding to human [125I]IL1α. Erosions of 19 diarthrodial joints were radiographically scored by the Larsen method. Results: The relative risk (RR) of early IL1α aAb positive patients developing at least 30% of maximum radiographic joint destruction was significantly lower than for IL1α aAb negative patients, RR=0.29 (p=0.04). In rheumatoid factor positive patients RR was only 0.18 (p=0.02). Patients who seroconverted more than two years after the onset of RA showed the most aggressive development of joint erosion, with a relative risk of at least 40% of maximum radiographic joint destruction of 2.56 (p=0.048) Conclusions: The progression of radiographic joint destruction in patients with RA is associated with, and perhaps modified by, circulating IL1α aAb, suggesting that IL1α or IL1α aAb, or both, have a role in the erosive processes. IL1α aAb appear to be of prognostic significance in RA.