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Industrial pollution may be linked to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies
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Industrial pollution may be linked to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, according to research from Sasha Bernatsky, MD, and colleagues presented at the Canadian Rheumatology Association Annual Meeting.
The researchers studied data from 20,000 patients from the Canadian metropolitan areas of Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean enrolled in the CARTaGENE study. A random sample of 3,579 enrollees with demographic and health data and blood sera available was selected, and sera were analyzed for the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. The residential postal code of each participant was used to determine proximity to known industrial sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Sasha Bernatsky
Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the relationship between independent variables, PM2.5 and SO2 exposure and anti-CCP status. Two exposure variables, a fixed variable for exposure per person and a variable for continuous, cumulative exposure, were used to estimate pollution exposure.
Of the sera samples studied, 6.6% were low-positive for anti-CCP antibodies, 2.7% were medium-positive and 1.5% were high-positive. Of the 1,721 participants with validated postal codes, strong trends were seen between the presence of anti-CCP antibodies and increased proximity to industrial sources of PM2.5 and SO2 in residential areas, according to the researchers. A further trend was seen between the absence of anti-CCP antibodies and increased distance from known industrial sources of SO2 and PM2.5. Adjusted results showed a greater association with PM2.5 compared with SO2. - by Shirley Pulawski
Reference:
Bernatsky S, et al. Paper #139. Presented at: Canadian Rheumatology Association Annual Meeting. Feb. 4-7, 2015; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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