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ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the prevalence and incidence of polyautoimmunity between anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP)–positive and anti-CCP–negative patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsIn a nationwide register-based cohort study, patients with RA (disease duration ≤ 2 yrs) in the DANBIO rheumatology register with an available anti-CCP test in the Register of Laboratory Results for Research were identified. The polyautoimmunity outcome included 21 nonrheumatic autoimmune diseases identified by linkage between the Danish Patient Registry and Prescription Registry. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) was calculated by modified Poisson regression to estimate the prevalence at diagnosis in anti-CCP–positive vs anti-CCP–negative patients. The hazard ratio (HR) of polyautoimmunity within 5 years of entry into DANBIO was estimated in cause-specific Cox regression models.ResultsThe study included 5839 anti-CCP–positive and 3799 anti-CCP–negative patients with RA. At first visit, the prevalence of prespecified polyautoimmune diseases in the Danish registers was 11.1% and 11.9% in anti-CCP–positive and anti-CCP–negative patients, respectively (PR 0.93, 95% CI 0.84-1.05). The most frequent autoimmune diseases were autoimmune thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. During a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, only a few (n = 210) patients developed polyautoimmunity (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.46-0.79).ConclusionPolyautoimmunity as captured through the Danish National Patient Registry occurred in approximately 1 in 10 patients with RA at time of diagnosis regardless of anti-CCP status. In the years subsequent to the RA diagnosis, only a few and mainly anti-CCP–negative patients developed autoimmune disease.

Polyautoimmunity is defined as having 2 or more autoimmune diseases. Little is known about polyautoimmunity in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE).

A recent study conducted at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark investigated the prevalence of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and their association with cardiovascular mortality in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The study found that AAV patients had a higher prevalence of major ECG abnormalities compared to controls, and these abnormalities were associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. The researchers recommend including ECG assessment as part of routine clinical care for AAV patients. This information is important for individuals conducting research on cardiovascular diseases and conditions, particularly vasculitis. [Extracted from the article]