HIGH-LEVELS OF NEUTRALIZING AUTOANTIBODIES AGAINST IL-1-ALPHA ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A BETTER PROGNOSIS IN CHRONIC POLYARTHRITIS - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Neutralizing autoantibodies to interleukin (IL)-1 alpha were detected in a subset of chronic polyarthritis patients characterized by an incr eased proportion of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome or self-l imiting inflammatory arthritis, diseases with a much better prognosis than rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The evolution of anti-IL-1 alpha antib ody levels was followed over 3 years. Incidence and levels were higher in patients with a benign form of polyarthritis. In these patients le vels remained stable or increased over the follow-up period. In contra st, incidence and levels were lower and some RA patients became negati ve. Negative correlations were observed between the levels of anti-IL- 1 alpha antibodies and the clinical and biological indices of disease activity. The relative risk factor of developing RA was 12 in the abse nce of high anti-IL-1 alpha antibody levels and 18.2 when associated w ith the presence of HLA-DR4. In conclusion, the presence of anti-IL-1 alpha autoantibodies appears to be protective and their detection coul d represent a marker of good prognosis for destruction.