Biomarkers and immunological parameters in haemophilia and rheumatoid arthritis patients: a comparative multiplexing laboratory study

Abstract

Introduction Haemophilia (HA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may develop joint damage caused by recurrent joint bleedings in HA or by chronic inflammation in RA. Only few data exist for biomarker studies in these patients. Aim The objective of the present study is to assess a large array of biomarkers in peripheral blood samples obtained from HA patients without or with arthropathy and to compare pattern to RA patients and healthy controls. Methods A panel of biomarkers was assessed in 129 men (40 HA patients without arthropathy, 23 HA patients with arthropathy, 23 RA patients and 43 control subjects). 37 different biomarkers (cytokines, angiogenesis‐related proteins) were analysed using a multiple analyte profiling technology and supplemented by acute phase proteins, coagulation and immunological parameters. Results Evidence for systemic inflammation was obtained by increased acute phase reactants in all patient groups. 13 or 14 from 42 soluble parameters demonstrated significant differences (p < .05) between HA patients without arthropathy and healthy controls, or between HA patients with arthropathy and healthy controls, respectively. Largely overlapping patterns were obtained except for interleukin‐7 being increased in HA patients without arthropathy and being decreased in HA in the presence of arthropathy. Conclusions In addition to data supporting systemic inflammation, we provide evidence for a common biomarker profile in HA patients and RA patients compared to healthy controls. A distinctive biomarker profile for HA patients with arthropathy did not appear except for interleukin‐7 demonstrating specific changes depending on the absence or presence of arthropathy in HA patients.

Joint Health Markers in Hemophilia: The State of the Art

“…Studies comparing hemophilia patients and control patients showed both increased and decreased levels of cartilage, bone and synovial inflammation markers [7,8,10,11,[19][20][21]. These discrepancies were also noticed in our initial systematic review.…”

Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis related miRNA‐expression in patients with haemophilia

“…A recent study by Toenges et al. also showed evidence of systemic inflammation in haemophilia patients with significantly elevated levels of interleukin‐7, ‐10 and ‐12 and other acute phase reactants 3 …”

“…2 A recent study by Toenges et al also showed evidence of systemic inflammation in haemophilia patients with significantly elevated levels of interleukin-7, -10 and -12 and other acute phase reactants. 3 Myocardial infarction occurs due to stenosis caused by an atherosclerotic plaque or thrombus formation after plaque rupture. It is in discussion whether the lifelong hypocoagulability in haemophilia patients has protective effects against atherosclerosis and thrombus formation.…”

Potential role of long non‐coding RNA H19 and Neat1 in haemophilic arthropathy

“…Haemophilic arthropathy due to repeated bleeds into the articular cavity is a major cause of morbidity in patients with haemophilia 1 . While the early phase of haemophilic arthropathy has few similarities with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), such as hyperplasia of the synovium lining, the later stages have more resemblance to osteoarthritis (OA) 2 . However, the underlying mechanism of this disease progression is not well understood.…”