title: Effects of smoking on disease activity and radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effects of cigarette smoking on disease activity and radiographic damage in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study subjects were 156 patients with early RA (< 2 yrs). Disease activity, therapeutic response, and radiographic progression were compared in smokers and nonsmokers at 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, ever-smokers had earlier disease onset and a closer association with the shared epitope (SE), but not more seropositive disease. No significant differences were observed in disease activity and European League Against Rheumatism therapeutic responses between smokers and nonsmokers. Multivariate analysis showed that baseline Larsen score, the HLA-DRB*04 genotype, being female, and current smoking were associated with radiographic progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with early RA, smoking was associated with earlier disease onset and the SE. Smoking was an independent factor of radiographic progression.
authors: Arthritis Unit, Rheumatology Service, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Ruiz-Esquide
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Gómez-Puerta
authors: Juan D
authors: JD
authors: Cañete
authors: Eduard
authors: E
authors: Graell
authors: Ivonne
authors: I
authors: Vazquez
authors: M Guadalupe
authors: MG
authors: Ercilla
authors: Odette
authors: O
authors: Viñas
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Gómez-Centeno
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Haro
authors: Raimon
authors: R
authors: Sanmartí
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens