title: Does the serum level of IgA-alpha-1-antitrypsin complex correlate with radiological progression in early rheumatoid arthritis? A 3-year follow-up study.
abstract: We followed the levels of serum IgA-alpha-1-antitrypsin (IgA-AT) complex in 37 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first 3 years of the disease. The changes in IgA-AT were correlated with a radiological damage score (DS) of the hands assessed according to Larsen. At the onset of the disease, the IgA-AT serum concentration was significantly higher as compared to the control group (0.72 +/- 0.22 U vs 0.29 +/- 0.14 U, P < 0.01). The level significantly decreased during the 3-year observation period. The DS was significantly higher after 3 years. However, this difference was due to changes in only 11 patients; in 26 patients the DS was almost unchanged. In the group of 11 patients with radiological progression, the level of IgA-AT either remained high or increased significantly (0.95 +/- 0.18 U at the onset, 0.97 +/- 0.25 U after 3 years), whereas we observed a decrease in IgA-AT in 26 patients without radiological progression (0.63 +/- 0.16 U at the onset of the disease, 0.45 +/- 0.10 U after 3 years, P < 0.01). Moreover, a relationship between changes in IgA-AT serum level and radiological progression was shown (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). Our studies suggested that the relationship between IgA-AT level and radiological progression of the disease should be considered. We cannot exclude the possibility that the constant high level of IgA-AT may cause worsening in bone erosions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University School of Medicine, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lacki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schochat
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Porawaska
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mackiewicz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001175:Arthrography; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin