Cvetkovic JT, Wållberg-Jonsson S, Ahmed E, Rantapää-Dahlqvist S, Lefvert AK
Increased levels of autoantibodies against copper-oxidized low density lipoprotein, malondialdehyde-modified low density lipoprotein and cardiolipin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. [Journal Article]
Rheumatology (Oxford) 2002 Sep; 41(9):988-95.
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the association of autoantibodies against cardiolipin (CL) and oxidized low density lipoproteins [copper-oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL)] with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cardiovascular complications.
METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one patients with RA were consecutively included. Autoantibodies were determined by ELISA. Healthy individuals from the same region were used as controls.
RESULTS: Levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against MDA-LDL and CL, as well as IgG and IgA antibodies against oxLDL were increased in the patients (P<0.01). The prevalence of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against CL was higher than in the normal population (74, 82 and 14%, respectively). The prevalence of IgG and IgA antibodies against oxLDL was also significantly increased (35 and 25%, respectively) and so was the prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against MDA-LDL (17 and 26%, respectively) compared with controls. The levels of IgM and IgA antibodies against aCL and IgM against MDA-LDL were increased in patients with extra-articular manifestations. Patients who developed myocardial infarction had a higher prevalence of IgG antibodies against MDA-LDL (P=0.04). There were substantial correlations between the levels of antibodies against oxLDL, MDA-LDL and CL.
CONCLUSIONS: RA patients had increased levels and prevalence of autoantibodies against CL, oxLDL and MDA-LDL, with associations to severity of disease and cardiovascular complications.
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