Anti-Carbamylated Fibrinogen Antibodies Might Be Associated With a Specific Rheumatoid Phenotype and Include a Subset Recognizing Epitopes of Its γ Chain One of Which Is Not Cross Reactive With Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies.

To identify the targets recognized by anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (anti-CarP) in patients with early Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), to study the cross-reactivity between anti-CarP and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and to evaluate their prognostic value. 331 patients (184 RA and 147 other rheumatisms) from the Very Early Arthritis (VErA) French cohort were analyzed. We performed mass spectrometry analysis of RA sera displaying anti-CarP activity and epitope mapping of the carbamylated fibrinogen γ chain to identify immunodominant peptides.

Variants of genes implicated in type 1 interferon pathway and B-cell activation modulate the EULAR response to rituximab at 24 weeks in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway has been identified to potentially affect the response to rituximab (RTX) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which suggests the contribution of type 1 IFN pathway genes such as IFN regulatory factor 5 and 7 ( and ), tyrosine kinase 2 (), signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 () and osteopontin (). Our objective was to study functional variants of these IFN pathway genes as predictors of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response to RTX for RA at week 24 (W24).

Methods: Logistic regression analysis with a stepwise multivariate model adjusted for sex, age and DAS28-CRP (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with C reactive protein) in 115 patients from the SMART randomised studywas used to analyse the association between the candidate variants and W24 EULAR response.

Soluble vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin and autoantibodies to VE-cadherin in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with etanercept or adalimumab.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of sVE and anti-vascular endothelial-cadherin antibodies (AAVE) in RA treated with etanercept or adalimumab combined with methotrexate.

Methods: This was an 18-month prospective multicenter study in which patients had active RA, requiring TNF antagonist. sVE rates and AAVE titers were measured respectively by dot blot and ELISA.

Performance of matrices developed to identify patients with early rheumatoid arthritis with rapid radiographic progression despite methotrexate therapy: an external validation study based on the ESPOIR cohort data.

Introduction: Use of prediction matrices of risk or rapid radiographic progression (RRP) for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice could help to better rationalise the first line of treatment. Before use, they must be validated in populations that have not participated in their construction. The main objective is to use the ESPOIR cohort to validate the performance of 3 matrices (ASPIRE, BEST and SONORA) to predict patients at high risk of RRP at 1 year of disease despite initial treatment with methotrexate (MTX).

Effectiveness and safety of abatacept in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis enrolled in the French Society of Rheumatology's ORA registry.

Objective: To study the effect of age on the risk-benefit balance of abatacept in RA.

Methods: Data from the French orencia and RA registry, including a 2-year follow-up, were used to compare the effectiveness and safety of abatacept according to age.

Results: Among the 1017 patients, 103 were very elderly (⩾75 years), 215 elderly (65-74), 406 intermediate aged (50-64) and 293 very young (<50).