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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between biomarkers known to be involved in both chronic inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis, as measured by carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), in patients with RA compared to controls.

METHODS: Between 2000 and 2004, all patients under 60 years of age with newly diagnosed RA in the northern region of Sweden were invited to participate in this study. Measurements of cIMT were undertaken at inclusion (T0), after five years of follow-up (T5) and after eleven years of follow-up (T11). Patients were clinically assessed and blood was drawn for analysis of biomarkers.

RESULTS: In patients with RA (n=54), linear regression models showed that cIMT at T11 was associated with levels of GDF-15 at T5 and T11, but not with baseline levels. GDF-15 was strongly associated with age. At T11, mean level of GDF-15 was elevated compared to controls. Levels of adiponectin, MCP-1, cathepsin S, endoglin and IL-6 were higher in patients with RA compared to controls, but showed no association with cIMT. In multivariable linear regression models with cIMT at T11 as dependent variable, change in GDF-15 from T0 to T11 was associated to an increase in cIMT at T11. Adjusting for systolic blood pressure and age respectively rendered this association statistically non-significant,

CONCLUSIONS: Among these patients with RA GDF-15 was associated to cIMT after 11 years of follow-up. GDF-15 should be a biomarker of interest in future research, to further understand its role in the accelerated atherogenesis in patients with RA.

Objective: The Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register has implemented an internet-based method (PER) for registering patient-recorded outcome measures. The aim of this study was to compare the agreement between visual analogue scales (VASs) reported via PER and clinic-based reporting using paper forms.Methods: In a cross-sectional study (70 patients), the results of 79 registrations of VASs for global health, pain, and fatigue from PER were compared with corresponding clinic-based paper registrations. For patients with polyarthritis, 28-joint count Disease Activity Scores (DAS28) were computed. Patients with axial disease also completed Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and Functional Index (BASDAI and BASFI) questionnaires. Mean differences and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Agreement was visualized using Bland-Altman plots.Results: No statistically significant differences in VASs were found comparing PER and paper forms for VAS Global, VAS Pain, and VAS Fatigue (p=0.295, 0.463, and 0.288, respectively). ICCs for VAS Global, Pain, and Fatigue ranged from 0.889 to 0.952, indicating excellent agreement. Bland-Altman plots for VAS did not show any proportional bias. The mean difference for DAS28 calculated by VASs from paper vs PER was -0.02 (n=65, p =0.660), and the mean difference for BASDAI was 0.04 (n=11, p =0.742). ICCs for DAS28 and BASDAI were 0.962 and 0.985, respectively. Of the participating patients, 60% preferred PER.Conclusion: Internet-based reporting for patient-reported outcomes in a clinical setting resulted in similar data for VASs and corresponding disease activity scores to clinic-based reporting on paper forms.