Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McDONAGH, J.
Right arrow Articles by DEIGHTON, C. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McDONAGH, J.
Right arrow Articles by DEIGHTON, C. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1994 British Society for Rheumatology

research-article

ANTI-PROTEUS ANTIBODIES AND PROTEUS ORGANISMS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A CLINICAL STUDY

J. McDONAGH*, J. GRAY{dagger}, H. SYKES*, D. J. WALKER*, A. J. BINT{dagger} and C. M. DEIGHTON

*Departments of Rheumatology Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4LP
{dagger}Departments of Microbiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4LP

We have studied anti-Proteus antibodies (APA), isolation of Proteus, and their relation to various measures of RA disease activity. Seventy RA patients with a CRP>10 mg/l had higher APA titres than 17 RA patients with CRP≤10 mg/1 (P = 0.006), and 36 non-RA controls (P = 0.003). However, in a cross-sectional study of the RA group, there was no correlation between APA and a number of clinical and laboratory measures of disease activity, including the CRP and Stoke RA activity index. A longitudinal study showed no correlation between changes in these measures of disease activity and change in APA titre. We were unable to isolate Proteus in the urine or faeces of RA patients more frequently than controls, and the isolation of Proteus did not correlate with serum APA titres. Urinary APA was present in equal frequencies in RA and non-RA patients. NSAIDs, DMARDs and steroids did not appear to influence APA titres in the RA group.

These results suggest that APA may act as an acute phase protein, distinct from CRP, but not correlating with RA disease activity in its broadest context. The fact that the antibody we are measuring binds to Proteus may be irrelevant, and the study does not support a role for Proteus in RA.

KEY WORDS: Anti-Proteus antibodies, Rheumatoid arthritis, Disease activity, Stoke index, Urine, Faeces, Drugs, Acute phase protein


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Clin. Microbiol. Rev.Home page
C. M. O'Hara, F. W. Brenner, and J. M. Miller
Classification, Identification, and Clinical Significance of Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella
Clin. Microbiol. Rev., October 1, 2000; 13(4): 534 - 546.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann Rheum DisHome page
O. Mäki-Ikola, R. Hällgren, L. Kanerud, N. Feltelius, L. Knutsson, and K. Granfors
Enhanced jejunal production of antibodies to Klebsiella and other Enterobacteria in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis
Ann Rheum Dis, July 1, 1997; 56(7): 421 - 425.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.