Clinical and serological characteristics of Ecuadorian patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Carlos Ríos,1 Génessis Maldonado,2 Carlos Paredes,2 Christian Ferro,3 Mario Moreno,4 Claudia Vera,3 Sara Vargas,5 Wendy Calapaqui,5 Carlos Vallejo6 1Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Center, Clinical Research Department, Guayaquil, Ecuador; 2Espíritu Santo University, Rheumatology Department, Samborondón, Ecuador; 3Santiago de Guayaquil Catholic University, Rheumatology Department, Guayaquil, Ecuador; 4Luis Vernaza Hospital, Rheumatology Service, Guayaquil, Ecuador; 5Ecuadorian Society of Rheumatology, Clinical Research Department, Guayaquil, Ecuador; 6Pontificia Catholic University of Ecuador, Rheumatology Department, Quito, Ecuador Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease, wherein late diagnosis and treatment leads to deformities and disability.Objective: The aim of the study was to assess and describe the clinical and immunological characteristics, activity status of the disease, and functional capacity in a cohort of Ecuadorian patients with RA.Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted on a population of patients with prediagnosed RA from public and private Ecuadorian rheumatology clinics. This study investigated 400 patients with a mean age of 50 years, 353 (82.25%) of which were female.Results: The study showed that 44.3%, 83.5%, 60.3%, 41.8%, 37.5%, and 11.5% had an acute onset of the disease, symmetrical polyarthritis, morning stiffness exceeding 1 h, dry eyes, dry mouth, and rheumatoid nodules, respectively. A total of 89.7% presented with positive rheumatoid factor, and 96.5% were anti-citrullinated protein antibody positive.Conclusion: This is the largest Ecuadorian cohort of patients with RA; clinical features are similar to those of other Latin American populations. Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, epidemiology, Ecuador

Keywords

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• disease activity.