[Anti-TNFalpha treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anti-Ro/SSA antibodies]

Objective: To analyse clinical efficacy, onset of new autoantibodies or symptoms of autoimmune disease in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis with anti-Ro/SSA treated with anti-TNFa agents. Methods: Six anti-Ro/SSA positive subjects with RA were studied every six months until 24th month of treatment in order to detect ANA titer (IFI), anti-dsDNA (Farr), anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta2glycoprotein I (ELISA), anti-ENA (CIE). The titre of anti-Ro/SSA were analysed by ELISA. Four patients were diagnosed as overlap RA/SS. Results: Six female patients (mean age 58ys, SD 9.8ys), with long-standing RA (mean 7ys, range 5-22 ys) were treated with anti-TNFa agents for a mean of 31 months (SD: 20.4 m): 4 with Infliximab and 2 with Etanercept. All the patients showed a significant reduction of DAS until 24th month (p