Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased overall and cardiovascular mortality. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) may play differentiated roles in the pathogenesis of RA. We had observed that high serum levels of MBL increased the risk of ischemic heart disease in patients with RA. In this followup study we describe the mortality in a cohort of 229 Danish patients with RA. We examine if previously reported factors and MBL influence the risk of overall death and death due to cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Known predictors of RA mortality were assessed. MBL extended genotypes (YA/YA, YA/XA, XA/XA, YA/YO, XA/YO, YO/YO) were determined; MBL serum concentrations were measured. The vital status and causes of death were assessed in a prospective study. RESULTS: The median followup was 10.3 years. The overall risk of death was 4% per year. Comparing mortality in the RA cohort with mortality in an age- and sex-matched cohort based on the general Danish population, we found significantly increased overall mortality [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9, and cardiovascular mortality (SMR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.6)]. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors of overall death were extraarticular manifestations, positive rheumatoid factor, increased C-reactive protein (CRP), poor nutritional state, and serum MBL. Predictors of cardiovascular death were Health Assessment Questionnaire score, increased CRP, poor nutritional state, and the high-producing MBL genotype YA/YA. CONCLUSION: Both overall and cardiovascular mortality were increased in Danish patients with RA. In our cohort, states of high MBL production and several previously reported factors contributed significantly to this increased risk of overall death and cardiovascular death.

Original publication

DOI

10.3899/jrheum.090812

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Rheumatol

Publication Date

03/2010

Volume

37

Pages

536 - 543

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Case-Control Studies, Denmark, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Genotype, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Mannose-Binding Lectin, Mannose-Binding Lectins, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Rheumatoid Factor, Risk Factors