This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
GlycA may be useful biomarker for assessment of disease activity, atherosclerosis in patients with RA
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
GlycA concentrations were higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy adults and correlated with disease activity and coronary artery atherosclerosis, according to recently published study findings.
A cross-sectional study of 166 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a cohort of patients with high risk for cardiovascular disease and 90 healthy adults matched for age, race and sex was conducted.
Patients and volunteers were examined and disease activity was assessed in patients with RA. The Larsen score was calculated in 92 patients with RA using radiographs obtained at a median of 1.9 years prior to enrollment in the study.
About 10% of patients and volunteers had known coronary artery disease. Coronary artery calcium was detected in 52% of the patients with RA and in 39% of controls. Concentrations of GlycA were higher in patients with RA (median: 398 µmol/L vs. 344 µmol/L), and increased concentrations were significantly associated with the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and DAS-C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), according to the researchers. A cross-sectional relationship with GlycA and the Larsen score was also observed.
GlycA and low vs. moderate-to-high disease activity were differentiated in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve by 0.78 using DAS28-ESR and by 0.75 based on DAS28-CRP. GlycA also correlated with tender and swollen joint counts and the patient-reported global health score.
In 92 patients with available radiographs, analysis showed GlycA also correlated with the Larsen score. No significant differences were seen between patients receiving different therapies, such as methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, anti-tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or other treatments, according to the researchers.
A trend of higher-than-median GlycA concentrations was seen in relationship to the presence of coronary artery calcium. The odds of the presence of coronary artery calcium increased by 48% with every quartile increase in GlycA independent of age, race or sex. - by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts