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[Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with the autoantibody pattern]
L Altomonte1, A Zoli, A Galossi
1Istituto di Medicina Interna e Geriatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma.
Annali Italiani Di Medicina Interna : Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana Di Medicina Interna
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with dry eyes and mouth (keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia) often show rheumatoid factor. These symptoms, linked to extra-articular disease, did not correlate with antinuclear antibodies (ANA) or anti-RANA.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease.
- Extra-articular manifestations, including ocular and oral symptoms, are common in RA.
- The autoantibody profile in RA patients with specific clinical features requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the autoantibody patterns in rheumatoid arthritis patients presenting with clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis.
- To determine the correlation between specific autoantibodies and the presence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia in RA patients.
Main Methods:
- Study included 32 out- and in-patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Patients were assessed for clinical features of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia.
- Autoantibody testing included rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-rheumatoid arthritis nuclear antigens (RANA), anti-SSA, and anti-SSB.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (68.75%) and xerostomia (68.75%) was observed in the studied RA cohort.
- Rheumatoid factor was present in 53.1% of patients, ANA in 48.4%, and anti-RANA in 68.7%.
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia significantly correlated with the presence of rheumatoid factor, but not with ANA or anti-RANA antibodies.
Conclusions:
- The high frequency of dry eyes and mouth in RA patients indicates significant extra-articular involvement.
- These symptoms are associated with the presence of rheumatoid factor.
- ANA and anti-RANA antibodies may reflect nonspecific polyclonal activation in rheumatoid arthritis.