RESEARCH - IgM-RF, anti-CCP, and ACF decrease during treatment with Remicade in patients with RA

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J Rheumatol. 2008 Mar;35(3):425-8.

IgM-Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide, and

Anti-Citrullinated Human Fibrinogen Antibodies Decrease During

Treatment with the Tumor Necrosis Factor Blocker Infliximab in

Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Vis M, Bos WH, Wolbink G, Voskuyl AE, Twisk JW, Van de Stadt R, Hamann

D, Dijkmans BA, Lems WF.

From VU University Medical Center, Sanquin Research, and Jan van

Breemen Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of treatment with infliximab on

serum levels of rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF), antibodies against cyclic

citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), and antibodies against deiminated

human fibrinogen, a specific citrullinated peptide (ACF), and their

association with disease activity and disease duration in patients

with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The study sample included 62

consecutive patients who were treated with infliximab for at least one

year. IgM-RF, anti-CCP, and ACF were measured at 0, 14, 30, and 46

weeks. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 54 years and median disease

duration of 10 years and were predominantly female (81%). At baseline

63%, 77%, and 82% of patients were positive for IgM-RF, anti-CCP, and

ACF, respectively. In terms of percentages, the levels of IgM-RF were

reduced by 64% at 46 weeks, while anti-CCP and ACF levels were reduced

by roughly 25%. The decrease in serum levels of these autoantibodies

was not associated with the decrease in disease activity. The change

in ACF was significantly related to disease duration, while the

changes in IgM-RF or anti-CCP were not.

CONCLUSION: In a cohort of patients with RA who responded to

infliximab therapy, all autoantibodies decreased significantly, but

IgM-RF showed a larger decrease than anti-CCP or ACF. These changes in

levels of autoantibodies are not directly related to the change in

disease activity. Early in the disease, ACF levels were best

influenced by treatment with infliximab.

PMID: 1832297

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18322974

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