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New tool to treat rheumatoid arthritis discovered

Researchers have identified a specific antibody that, when present, is associated with better outcomes for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

By Amy Wallace

March 23 (UPI) -- A Swedish study suggests antibodies against the cartilage protein collagen II could aid in predicting prognosis and therapy choice for rheumatoid arthritis, or RA.

Researchers at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University in Sweden have identified antibodies that target collagen II, an important protein in joint cartilage.

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RA is an inflammatory disease in which joints become stiff and swollen leading to pain and joint destruction over time. The condition is caused by immune cells that attack tissues in joints instead of attacking foreign invaders.

"Analyzing these antibodies, in combination with other relevant antibodies, could be used for predicting prognosis and choosing therapy for rheumatoid arthritis patients," Johan Rönnelid, a professor at Uppsala, said in a press release.

Some RA patients have antibodies that are formed to target collagen II, and are responsible for inflammation early in the disease, but decrease over time.

Researchers followed a group of 773 RA patients over a five-year period to determine a correlation between collagen antibodies and disease progression.

"We found that patients with collagen antibodies showed increased signs of inflammation during the first six months after diagnosis, after this there was no difference compared to patients without any collagen antibodies," said Vivek Anand Manivel, a doctoral student at Uppsala. "We also discovered that the presence of collagen antibodies at the time of diagnosis was associated with a better prognosis."

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Researchers found the presence of antibodies against proteins called citrullinated peptides had an opposite reaction to inflammation compared to collagen antibodies. The presence of antibodies against citrullinated peptides actually increased inflammation in later disease progression and patients with these antibodies had worsened prognosis.

The study was published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

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