Clinical significance of a self-reported familial occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis among patients with recent-onset arthritis: data from the ESPOIR cohort

Objective To assess, in patients with recent-onset arthritis, whether a self-reported familial occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a clinical presentation of the disease, final diagnosis, long-term outcome and treatment decisions. Methods The study was conducted from data of patients included between 2002 and 2005 in the early arthritis ESPOIR cohort. Patients were recruited on the basis of having at least two swollen joints for >6 weeks and <6 months, no other diagnosis than RA and no previous exposure to glucocorticoids or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients were stratified into two groups according to the presence of a self-reported familial occurrence of RA at baseline. Data concerning final diagnosis (2-year visit), long-term outcome (5- year visit) and therapeutic decisions were compared between the 2 groups of patients, using logistic and Cox regression models. Results At baseline, 115 patients (14.1%) reported a familial occurrence of RA and showed, as compared with the remaining participants, higher prevalence of extra articular manifestations (EAMs) ( 51.8% vs. 39.6%, p=0.01) and severe EAMs (7.9% vs. 3.1%, p 0.01). Both unadjusted (hazard ratio, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.1-2.21; p = 0.01) and adjusted analysis (hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.06- 2.15; p=0.02) identified a higher probability for the initiation of a targeted DMARD over time among patients with a self-reported familial occurrence of RA. Conclusion In the specific context of early arthritis, a self-reported familial occurrence of RA is associated with the future decision to initiate a targeted DMARD.