RESEARCH - Influence of sex on disease severity in patients with RA

[Guest guest]

J Rheumatol. 2005 Aug;32(8):1448-1451.

Influence of Sex on Disease Severity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Gossec L, Baro-Riba J, Bozonnat MC, Daures JP, Sany J, Eliaou JF, Combe B.

From the Department of Rheumatology B, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, Rene

Descartes University, Paris; Service d'Immuno-Rhumatologie, Centre

Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, INSERM U454, Montpellier; Institut

Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Montpellier; and Laboratoire

d'Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, INSERM U454,

Montpellier, France.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patient's sex influences the severity of

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in terms of clinical severity or need for

treatments. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study. We

compared 133 male patients with 133 female patients presenting with RA and

matched for disease duration. Data collection included demographic

characteristics, pattern of joint involvement, extraarticular

manifestations, medical treatment, and joint surgery. Biological measures,

HLA genotypes, Larsen radiological scores on radiographs of hands and feet,

and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) results were obtained. RESULTS:

Mean disease duration was 7.4 +/- 6.9 years. Concerning clinical pattern of

involvement, sicca syndrome was more frequent in women than in men (p =

0.0003). There were no significant differences concerning absence or

presence of at least one disease associated gene (HLA-DRB1*01 or *04) in our

patients; however, women more often carried 2 disease associated genes (21%

vs 11%). No other difference in clinical, biological, or radiological

indicators was noted between the 2 populations. Concerning treatment, there

was no difference for large joint arthroplasties; female patients underwent

significantly more distal joint arthrodesis, 6.7% vs 1.5% (p = 0.03); they

were prescribed slightly more disease modifying drugs, 3.33 vs 2.83 (p =

0.04); and showed a trend toward more large joint arthrodesis, 15% vs 7.5%

(p = 0.05), and metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasties, 5.2% vs 0.7% (p =

0.08).

CONCLUSION: When patients are matched for RA duration, sex has little effect

on the disease pattern and severity, yet women undergo more distal joint

surgery.

PMID: 16078318

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

6078318 & dopt=Abstract

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org