Strong combined gene-environment effects in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-positive rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide case-control study in Denmark.
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of shared epitope (SE) susceptibility genes, alone and in combination with tobacco smoking and other environmental risk factors, for risk of subtypes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) defined by the presence or absence of serum antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCPs).


METHODS
To address these issues, a nationwide case-control study was conducted in Denmark during 2002-2004, comprising incident cases of RA or patients with recently diagnosed RA (309 seropositive and 136 seronegative for IgG antibodies against CCP) and 533 sex- and age-matched population controls. Associations were evaluated by logistic regression analyses, in which odds ratios (ORs) served as measures of relative risk.


RESULTS
Compared with individuals without SE susceptibility genes, SE homozygotes had an elevated risk of anti-CCP-positive RA (OR 17.8, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 10.8-29.4) but not anti-CCP-negative RA (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.53-2.18). Strong combined gene-environment effects were observed, with markedly increased risks of anti-CCP-positive RA in SE homozygotes who were heavy smokers (OR 52.6, 95% CI 18.0-154), heavy coffee drinkers (OR 53.3, 95% CI 15.5-183), or oral contraceptive users (OR 44.6, 95% CI 15.2-131) compared with SE noncarriers who were not exposed to these environmental risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons who are homozygous for SE susceptibility genes, notably those who are also exposed to environmental risk factors, have a markedly and selectively increased risk of anti-CCP-positive RA. A distinction between anti-CCP-positive RA and anti-CCP-negative RA seems warranted, because these RA subtypes most likely represent etiologically distinct disease entities.
Pedersen
Merete
M
Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. mtb@ssi.dk
Jacobsen
Søren
S
Garred
Peter
P
Madsen
Hans O
HO
Klarlund
Mette
M
Svejgaard
Arne
A
Pedersen
Bo V
BV
Wohlfahrt
Jan
J
Frisch
Morten
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D003718:Denmark; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D000906:Antibodies; D003069:Coffee; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D000939:Epitopes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide