A1.29 In rheumatoid arthritis, smoking is not primarily associated with anti-citrullinaged protein antibodies, but with the presence of several autoantibodies

Abstract

Background and Objectives In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), smoking has been described to be specifically associated with the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). However, smoking has also been shown to be associated with the presence of autoantibodies in various other autoimmune diseases, such anti-dsDNA in systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-Jo1 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. We therefore investigated whether smoking is specifically associated with ACPA-positive RA, or with autoantibody-positive RA in general. Materials and Methods A meta-analysis was performed using RA patients from 5 countries: Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Complete data on rheumatoid factor (RF)-, ACPA-status and tobacco exposure were available for 6320 RA patients. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) associated with the presence of RF, ACPA or both, were calculated by logistic regression comparing ever smokers with never smokers, and using the RF-negative ACPA-negative RA patients as the reference category. Results There was no significant association between smoking and RA in patients who were positive for only one antibody, being either RF (OR 1.04, 0.76 – 1.42) or ACPA (OR 1.00, 0.82 – 1.22). However, smoking was significantly associated with double-positive (RF-positive and ACPA-positive) RA (OR 1.55, 1.20 – 2.00). When ANA-status was also taken into account in the Dutch cohort, the association with smoking was strongest for the triple-positive group (OR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.47 – 4.00), although the difference with the double-positive RA patients (RF- and ACPA-positive, ANA-negative) (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.14 – 2.62) was not statistically significant. Conclusions Smoking is not specifically associated with ACPA-positive RA, but rather with the concurrent presence of RF and ACPA in RA patients. These data indicate that smoking predisposes to the development of several autoantibodies, and that current hypotheses about the role of smoking in the pathophysiology of RA may need to be revisited.

Frequency of anti-nuclear antibody and anti dsDNA antibodies in subjects of oral addictive habits

“…ANA, anticitrulinated protein antibodies and rheumatoid factor. 23 However, we are unable to discuss association of autoimmunity with oral addictive habits other than smoking because literature is scarce in this aspect. Therefore, this pilot study lays down the foundation for future studies about association of oral addictive habits and their predisposition to development of autoimmune diseases, especially in this part of the world where the oral addictive habits are quite strong.…”