FRI0029 Clinical significance of 14–3–3eta protein levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background 14–3–3η is a protein that is overexpressed in serum and joint fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may represent a diagnostic biomarker for RA. Objectives We assessed the prevalence and serum levels of 14–3–3η in patients with RA and with other rheumatic diseases. Methods Serum levels of 14–3–3η were measured in 96 patients with RA, in 101 patients with other rheumatic diseases and in 66 healthy subjects. The RA group consisted of 51 patients with well-established RA who were treated with different DMARDs, and 45 patients with early untreated disease (onset of less than 1 year). The disease control group included 33 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 44 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 24 psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. All of the sera samples were evaluated by JOINT stat 14–3–3η ELISA test kits (Augurex Life Sciences Corp.). The cut-off was defined as 0.19 ng/ml. Results Median (IQR) 14–3–3η levels were significantly higher in the early RA group [0.25 ng/ml (0.075–3.11)] and in established RA patients [0.15 ng/ml (0.08–1.26)] in comparison with healthy subjects [0 ng/ml (0–0)] and disease controls: SLE [0.01 ng/ml (0–0.055)], AS [0.05 ng/ml (0–0.255)] and PsA [0.01 ng/ml (0–0.065)]. The prevalence of 14–3–3η positivity in early RA patients was 58%, significantly higher than in the disease control group (SLE: 9%, p Conclusions The concentration of 14–3–3η protein may be used to distinguish between patients with early RA and patients with other rheumatic diseases and serve as an additional biomarker in the diagnosis of RA. Disclosure of Interest O. Shovman: None declared, B. Gilburd: None declared, A. Watad: None declared, H. Amital: None declared, P. Langevitz: None declared, N. L. Bragazzi: None declared, M. Adawi: None declared, D. Perez: None declared, G. Bornstein : None declared, M. Lidar : None declared, M. Blank: None declared, Y. Azuri: None declared, N. K. Biln Employee of: Augurex Life Sciences Corp, A. Marotta Employee of: Augurex Life Sciences Corp, Y. Shoenfeld: None declared