Clustering of disease features within 512 multicase RA families

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Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Mar;50(3):736-41.

Clustering of disease features within 512 multicase rheumatoid arthritis

families.

Jawaheer D, Lum RF, Amos CI, Gregersen PK, Criswell LA.

North Shore-LIJ Research Institute, Manhasset, New York.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether specific rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

disease features demonstrate the presence of significant familial

clustering. METHODS: We studied 1,097 individuals with RA from 512

multicase families enrolled in the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis

Consortium. All patients were interviewed and examined to collect

standardized information about demographic and clinical characteristics.

Affected individuals also underwent radiography of the hands and wrists

and were genotyped for the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope. Familial clustering

of disease features was assessed using contingency table analysis and

Pearson correlation coefficients. Multivariate logistic and linear

regression analyses were used to account for other characteristics that

might influence familial clustering, such as disease duration, sex, and

age at diagnosis. RESULTS: Several disease characteristics exhibited

significant familial clustering, including seropositivity (multivariate

odds ratio [OR] 4.3, P < 0.0001), nodules (OR 2.3, P < 0.0001), and age

at RA diagnosis (multivariate regression coefficient [beta] 0.44, P <

0.0001). Other characteristics demonstrated statistically significant

but modest degrees of familial clustering (Joint Alignment and Motion

score, Health Assessment Questionnaire score, and year of RA diagnosis)

or modest but nonsignificant familial clustering (other extraarticular

manifestations, other autoimmune diseases).

CONCLUSION: The clustering of certain disease characteristics implicates

specific genetic or nongenetic causes. These results highlight the

importance of considering disease phenotype in future genetic and

epidemiologic studies of RA.

PMID: 15022313

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