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What Leads to Rapid Radiographic Progression in Early RA?

June 8, 2018
Gregory M. Weiss, MD

Smoking, obesity, RF and anti-CCP positivity, high disease activity, early erosions-one of these was found to protect against severe joint damage.

Reference1. Rydell E, Forslind K, Nilsson JÅ, Jacobsson LTH, Turesson C. Smoking, body mass index, disease activity, and the risk of rapid radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2018;20:82. doi: 10.1186/s13075-018-1575-2.

Rydell and colleagues in Sweden found that smoking, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) positivity, early erosions, high initial disease activity, and active disease at 1 year increase the risk of rapid radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Obesity had a protective effect.1

Scroll through the slides for the details of the study and the take-home messages for clinicians.

(Image credit: ©Puwadol Jaturawutthicai/Shutterstock.com)

BMI, body mass index; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

DAS28, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints.

CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

RRP, rapid radiographic progression.

The data on BMI should not be taken as a suggestion that patients should strive to be overweight. Keep in mind that obesity confers cardiovascular risk as well as risk of other significant comorbidity, such as diabetes.

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