Objective. To identify a new autoantigen/ autoantibody population in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sera.Methods. Following a population-based recruitment effort, 255 patients with very early arthritis (median disease duration 4 months) were studied using different clinical, biologic, and radiologic assessments. After a followup period of 1 year, patients were classified as having RA (n ‫؍‬ 145), non-RA rheumatic diseases (n ‫؍‬ 70), and undifferentiated arthritis (n ‫؍‬ 40). Patients' sera were analyzed by one-dimensional (1D) and 2D Western blotting. The recognized 50-kd protein was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). RA serum reactivities were evaluated against the recombinant protein synthesized by an in vitro coupled transcription-translation system.Results. On 1D Western blots, 36 of the 145 RA sera bound to a 50-kd polypeptide. On 2D Western blots, anti-50-kd؉ RA sera recognized a triplet of isoelectric point 6.5-7.0 and a molecular mass of 50 kd. The 3 spots of the triplet were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and were shown to correspond to human ␣-enolase. A goat anti-enolase antiserum, which recognized a band comigrating with the 50-kd antigen on 1D Western blots, gave a labeling pattern on 2D Western blots similar to that observed with anti-50-kd؉ RA sera. Among the 36 RA sera that identified ␣-enolase in protein maps, only 8 recognized the recombinant (unmodified) ␣-enolase. The specificity of anti-␣-enolase antibodies for RA was 97.1%. Half of the anti-␣-enolase-positive RA patients were negative for both rheumatoid factor and antifilaggrin antibodies. The presence of anti-␣-enolase antibodies was the greatest predictive factor of radiologic progression in the first 66 RA patients included.Conclusion. Autoantibodies to ␣-enolase, an enzyme of the glycolytic pathway, are present in the sera of patients with very early RA and have potential diagnostic and prognostic value for RA.

ObjectivesTo develop and validate an outcome measure for assessing fears in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).MethodsFears were identified in a qualitative study, and reformulated as assertions with which participants could rate their agreement (on a 0–10 numeric rating scale). A cross-sectional validation study was performed including patients diagnosed with RA or axSpA. Redundant items (correlation >0.65) were excluded. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and factorial structure (principal component analysis) were assessed. Patients were classified into fear levels (cluster analysis). Associations between patient variables and fear levels were evaluated using multiple logistic regression.Results672 patients were included in the validation study (432 RA, 240 axSpA); most had moderate disease activity and were prescribed biologics. The final questionnaire included 10 questions with high internal consistency (α: 0.89) and a single dimension. Mean scores (±SD) were 51.2 (±25.4) in RA and 60.5 (±22.9) in axSpA. Groups of patients with high (17.2%), moderate (41.1%) and low (41.7%) fear scores were identified. High fear scores were associated with high Arthritis Helplessness Index scores (OR 6.85, 95% CI (3.95 to 11.87)); high Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety (OR 5.80, 95% CI (1.19 to 4.22)) and depression (OR 2.37, 95% CI (1.29 to 4.37)) scores; low education level (OR 3.48, 95% CI (1.37 to 8.83)); and high perceived disease activity (OR 2.36, 95% CI (1.10 to 5.04)).ConclusionsOverall, 17.2% of patients had high fear scores, although disease was often well controlled. High fear scores were associated with psychological distress. This questionnaire could be useful both in routine practice and clinical trials.

Misinterpretation of patient beliefs may complicate shared decision-making in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The objective of this study was to develop a questionnaire to assess patients’ beliefs about their disease and its treatment, and to identify patient characteristics associated with these beliefs. All beliefs reported by > 5% of 50 patients in a previous study were reformulated with a partnering patient organization into statements with which participants could rate their agreement on a scale of 0–10 (totally disagree to totally agree). The resulting Questionnaire for Arthritis Dialogue (QuAD) was made available to patients with RA or axSpA. A score ≥ 7 was considered a strongly held belief. Associations between patient characteristics and individual lifestyle beliefs were assessed using multiple logistic regression. The 21-item QuAD was completed by 672 patients (432 RA, 240 axSpA; mean [±SD] age 54.2 [± 14.2]; 63.7% female). The most widely held beliefs were related to uncertainty about progression (n = 354, 54.0%), heredity (n = 309, 47.8%), and flare triggers (n = 283, 42.7%). The unwarranted belief that physical activity is deleterious to disease activity was associated with markers of psychological distress and lower educational levels. The beliefs of patients with RA or axSpA about their disease are wide-ranging. Since these may be unwarranted and may lead to inappropriate behaviors, physicians should discuss these beliefs with their patients. The QuAD may facilitate this dialogue, and may also be useful in population studies to standardize the assessment and evolution of beliefs over time. People with long-term inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA; inflammation of the joints) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA; inflammation of the spine) may hold a number of beliefs about their disease, including some that are not supported by current scientific evidence (e.g., “I think that my disease was triggered by a vaccination”). Some beliefs, especially those relating to the role of lifestyle factors (such as exercise, diet, smoking, and drinking alcohol), may encourage people living with severe diseases to change their behavior in a way that has an effect on their disease. Within this project, we developed a questionnaire to identify the most common beliefs held by people living with RA or axSpA, which is called the “Questionnaire for Arthritis Dialogue (QuAD).” We also examined whether certain characteristics (or traits) of people living with RA or axSpA are linked to beliefs not currently supported by scientific evidence. A total of 672 people living with RA or axSpA in France were asked to complete the questionnaire (QuAD). The questionnaire included 21 opinion statements that they scored from 0 (totally disagree) to 10 (totally agree). A score of more than 7 was interpreted to mean that the person significantly agreed with the opinion. Based on the responses to specific opinion statements in the questionnaire, we were able to identify possible links bet...

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