Clinical and prognostic features associated with anti-Ro52 autoantibodies in connective tissue diseases patients with interstitial lung disease

Objective To define the clinical and prognostic features associated with anti-Ro52 autoantibodies in patients with connective tissue diseases with interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). Methods A total of 238 patients with CTD-ILD were included in this single-centre retrospective cohort study. Patients with positive anti-Ro52 antibodies were selected as the study group, and those with negative anti-Ro52 antibodies were included in the control group. Clinical and follow-up data were analysed. Results Among 238 patients, 145 (60.92%) were positive for the anti-Ro52 antibody. These patients were more likely to have respiratory symptoms at baseline, with more organising pneumonia (OP) patterns and worse forced vital capacity (FVC). Follow-up data were obtained for ILD progression in 170 patients. Varying degrees of progression in pulmonary function (PF) or imaging were found in 48 patients (28.24%) with CTD-ILD. A dichotomous logistic analysis based on the presence or absence of progress showed no correlation with anti-Ro52 antibodies. During the follow-up of 170 patients, there were 35 deaths: 24 in the anti-Ro52 antibody positive group and 11 in the anti-Ro52 antibody negative group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to describe the difference in survival between the two groups (mortality 17.14% vs. 12.5%, log-rank p=0.287). The multivariate logistic analysis showed that ILD progression was associated with older age, worse FVC and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide at baseline, higher levels of C-reactive protein, serum ferritin, immunoglobulin G and lower absolute lymphocyte count. Conclusion Anti-Ro52 antibodies may predict more severe lung damage in CTD-ILD; however, anti-Ro52 antibodies were not correlated with progression and death in patients with ILD.