Anti-Ro antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

Some autoantibodies are associated with peculiar clinical findings. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have anti-Ro antibodies.

To study prevalence and clinical associations of anti-Ro antibodies in RA patients.

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.

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).

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.