title: Autoantibodies to human citrullinated fibrinogen and their subfamilies to the α36-50Cit and β60-74Cit fibrin peptides similarly predict radiographic damages: a prospective study in the French ESPOIR cohort of very early arthritides.
abstract: To investigate whether subfamilies of the RA-specific autoantibodies to human citrullinated fibrinogen (AhFibA) differentially associate with the RA risk factors, HLA-DRB1 shared epitope containing alleles (SE alleles) and cigarette smoking, and thus help to predict the disease outcome.
  
  
  
  AhFibA and their anti-α36-50Cit and anti-β60-74Cit subfamilies were assayed by ELISA, at baseline, in the French ESPOIR (Etude et Suivi des Polyarthrites Indifférenciées Récentes) cohort composed of undifferentiated arthritides and RA patients of < 6 months' duration. Cigarette smoking, SE alleles' presence, DAS28, HAQ and modified Sharp-van der Heijde Score data were obtained at baseline, and after follow-up.
  
  
  
  After 3 years, 701 patients were classified as having RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria. Among them, 349 (50%), 203 (29%) and 257 (37%) were AhFibA-, anti-α36-50Cit- and anti-β60-74Cit-positive, respectively. The presence and titres of AhFibA and their subfamilies similarly associated with SE alleles, irrespective of their fine specificity, without significant effect of smoking. Neither their presence nor their titre was associated with DAS28 or HAQ. The presence of at least one subfamily was associated with a faster Sharp/van der Heijde score progression, albeit without correlation with the titre.
  
  
  
  AhFibA and their main subfamilies are similarly associated with SE alleles without additional effect of smoking. Whatever their fine specificity was, their presence (but not their titre) similarly constituted a marker of faster joint destruction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Cytology, University Hospital of Toulouse.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornillet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University.
authors.forename: Soufiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajana
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Centre, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse and.
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruyssen-Witrand
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Centre, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse and.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Centre, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse and.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Degboé
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Centre, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse and.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantagrel
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Centre APHP, Bichat Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Cytology, University Hospital of Toulouse.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serre
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Cytology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Nogueira.l@chu-toulouse.fr.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nogueira
keywords: ACPA; SHS; anti-CCP; autoantibodies; citrullinated; fibrinogen; fine specificity; joint destruction; prognostic value; rheumatoid arthritis