title: Autoantibodies against interleukin 1alpha in rheumatoid arthritis: association with long term radiographic outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible association of interleukin 1alpha autoantibodies (IL1alpha aAb) with the long term course of joint erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 176 patients with RA included in a prospective study over 30 years were analysed for IL1alpha aAb by binding to human [(125)I]IL1alpha. Erosions of 19 diarthrodial joints were radiographically scored by the Larsen method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative risk (RR) of early IL1alpha aAb positive patients developing at least 30% of maximum radiographic joint destruction was significantly lower than for IL1alpha aAb negative patients, RR=0.29 (p=0.04). In rheumatoid factor positive patients RR was only 0.18 (p=0.02). Patients who seroconverted more than two years after the onset of RA showed the most aggressive development of joint erosion, with a relative risk of at least 40% of maximum radiographic joint destruction of 2.56 (p=0.048)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The progression of radiographic joint destruction in patients with RA is associated with, and perhaps modified by, circulating IL1alpha aAb, suggesting that IL1alpha or IL1alpha aAb, or both, have a role in the erosive processes. IL1alpha aAb appear to be of prognostic significance in RA.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Inflammation Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. graudal@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Graudal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svenson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tarp
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garred
authors.forename: A-G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jurik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendtzen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007375:Interleukin-1