[Clinical characteristics and relevant factors of rheumatoid arthritis patients with anemia of chronic disease].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the related factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and to guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective study was used to analyze the patients admitted to Department of Rheumatology and Immunology in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018. Clinical data (including general conditions, joint lesions, extra-articular manifestations, and comorbidities), laboratory examinations, and treatment were collected to analyze the differences in clinical characteristics between group RA with ACD (RA-A) and group RA without ACD (RA-nA). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to screen for relevant factors of RA with ACD.

RESULTS

A total of 468 RA patients were included, including 194 cases (41.5%) in RA-A group and 274 cases (58.5%) in RA-nA group. There were no significant differences in age, gender, onset age, or course of disease between the two groups (P>0.05). The RA-A group had more joint swelling [13 (2, 14) vs. 10 (2, 11)], more tenderness [10 (2, 12) vs. 7 (2, 10)], and higher 28 joint disease activity scores (DAS28) [DAS28-CRP (C-reactive protein): 5.2±1.4 vs. 4.6±1.5; DAS28-ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate): 5.9±1.5 vs. 5.1±1.8] compared with the RA-nA group (P < 0.05). The incidence of pleural effusion (4.6% vs. 1.1%) and venous thrombosis (5.7% vs. 1.5%) were higher in RA-A group (P < 0.05). The platelet count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, ESR, CRP, immunoglobulin G (IgG) in RA-A group were significantly higher than those in RA-nA group (P < 0.05). Elevated ESR and CRP levels, DAS28 > 5.1 were relevant factors for anemia in the RA patients.

CONCLUSION

RA patients with ACD had more severe joint involvement, higher inflammatory indicators, and more active conditions, making them more prone to pleural effusion and venous thrombosis. High disease activity, high inflammatory status, and venous thrombosis were risk factors for RA with ACD.