PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alpizar-Rodriguez, Deshire
AU  - Lesker, Till Robin
AU  - Gronow, Achim
AU  - Gilbert, Benoît
AU  - Raemy, Elena
AU  - Lamacchia, Celine
AU  - Gabay, Cem
AU  - Finckh, Axel
AU  - Strowig, Till
TI  - <em>Prevotella copri</em> in individuals at risk for rheumatoid arthritis
AID  - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214514
DP  - 2019 May 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 590--593
VI  - 78
IP  - 5
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/78/5/590.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/78/5/590.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2019 May 01; 78
AB  - Objectives Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with a relative expansion of faecal Prevotellaceae. To determine the microbiome composition and prevalence of Prevotella spp. in a group of individuals at increased risk for RA, but prior to the development of the disease.Methods In an ongoing cohort study of first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with RA, we identified ‘FDR controls’, asymptomatic and without autoantibodies, and individuals in pre-clinical RA stages, who had either developed anticitrullinated peptide antibodies or rheumatoid factor positivity and/or symptoms and signs associated with possible RA. Stool sampling and culture-independent microbiota analyses were performed followed by descriptive statistics and statistical analyses of community structures.Results A total of 133 participants were included, of which 50 were categorised as ‘FDR controls’ and 83 in ‘pre-clinical RA stages’. The microbiota of individuals in ‘pre-clinical RA stages’ was significantly altered compared with FDR controls. We found a significant enrichment of the bacterial family Prevotellaceae, particularly Prevotella spp., in the ‘pre-clinical RA’ group (p=0.04).Conclusions Prevotella spp. enrichment in individuals in pre-clinical stages of RA, before the onset of RA, suggests a role of intestinal dysbiosis in the development of RA.