title: Anti-Ro antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some autoantibodies are associated with peculiar clinical findings. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have anti-Ro antibodies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study prevalence and clinical associations of anti-Ro antibodies in RA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 385 patients with RA for anti-Ro by Elisa testing and for clinical profile, functional assessment, DAS-28 4v. (ESR), extra-articular manifestations, thyroid function, autoantibodies and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anti-Ro was 8.31%. There was no significant difference in sex distribution, HAQ, DAS-28 or functional classification in patients with positive anti-Ro (p=ns). Patients with anti-Ro were younger at diagnosis (p=0.02). Analyzing extra-articular disorders we found a greater prevalence of cardiac valvular lesions (p<0.001) in patients with anti-Ro antibodies. No differences were found in other extra-articular manifestations, associated hypothyroidism, amyloidosis, treatment requirements, presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that in RA patients with anti-Ro have disease onset at an earlier age. Anti-Ro may be a risk factor for the development of cardiac valvular lesions. There was no association between this antibody and thyroid disease, amyloidosis and treatment needs.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit - Evangelic University Hospital, Curitiba, PR-Brazil.
authors.forename: Laís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanlorenzi
authors.forename: Paula de Oliveira
authors.initials: Pde O
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Marilia Barreto
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Thelma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skare
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; C035356:SS-A antibodies