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Comparative study on the level of B lymphocyte stimulator ( B ly S ) and frequency of lymphocytes between sero‐negative and sero‐positive rheumatoid arthritis patients
Author(s) -
Geng Yan,
Zhang Zhuoli
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-185x.2012.01814.x
Subject(s) - b cell activating factor , medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , lymphocyte , rheumatoid factor , immunology , titer , antibody , gastroenterology , b cell
Aim To investigate the differences of B lymphocyte stimulator ( B ly S ) level and frequency of lymphocytes between sero‐negative and sero‐positive rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) patients. Methods Sixty‐nine RA patients were enrolled into this study and their clinical data were recorded. The B ly S levels in plasma, frequency of T and B lymphocytes, as well as T ‐helper ( T h) subgroups were compared between sero‐negative and sero‐positive RA patients. Furthermore, the correlations between clinical features and immunological features were analyzed. Results The plasma B ly S level in sero‐negative RA was higher compared to the sero‐positive RA patients (1.73 ± 1.71 vs . 0.99 ± 0.59 ng/mL, P < 0.05) and osteoarthritis ( OA ) patients (1.73 ± 1.71 vs . 0.59 ± 0.12 ng/mL, P < 0.05). Plasma B ly S level was correlated with disease activity score ( DAS ‐28, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C ‐reactive protein), but had no correlation with the titers of rheumatoid factor and anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐ CCP ) antibodies. The patients with more advanced changes in X ‐rays had high plasma B ly S levels. No significant differences in the frequency of T lymphocytes, T h subpopulations and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood were observed between sero‐negative and sero‐positive RA patients. Conclusions Plasma B ly S level was correlated with disease activity and radiological progress, which indicates that plasma B ly S level may become a useful biological marker to reflect DAS and to predict RA prognosis.