Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Does methotrexate affect serum level of IgA-alpha-1 antitrypsin complex in early rheumatoid arthritis?

  • Published:
Clinical Rheumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We followed the levels of serum IgA-alpha-1-antitrypsin complex (IgA-AT), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-acidglycoprotein (AGP), and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) in twenty-seven early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during the first three years of the disease duration. Fifteen patients were treated with methotrexate (MTX), twelve patients with NSAIDs only.

The IgA-AT serum concentrations were significantly higher in RA patients as compared to the control group (0.72±0.39 U, vs. 0.27±0.15 U, p<0.01). It decreased in almost all individuals (23 cases) during the observation. This decrease occurred in both MTX treated and untreated patients; however, it was statistically significant (p<0.01) only in MTX treated patients.

On average, the levels of ESR, CRP, AGP, and ACT were higher at the beginning of the disease as compared to healthy controls. After three years duration of the disease, a significant decrease in serum levels of all these markers of acute phase response was observed. At the onset of the disease, AGP and ACT reactivity coefficients were normal; after three years they dropped.

We demonstrated an association between IgA-AT level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. No relationships were shown between IgA-AT levels and APP serum concentrations and APP glycosylation patterns in RA patients treated with MTX. Since decrease in IgA-AT level does not correlate with decrease in APP, we can suppose that observed changes in IgA-AT concentration depend rather on direct action of MTX on the complex, than the changes in disease course. Besides gold salts, D-penicillamine, and sulphasalazine, methotrexate may also destroy covalent linkage between IgA and antitrypsin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abboud, R.T., Chalmers, A., Gofton, J.P., Richter, A.M., Enarson, D.A. Relationship between severity of rheumatoid arthritis and serum alpha-1-antitrypsin. J Rheumatol 1991, 18, 1490–1495.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arnet, F.C., Edworthy, S.M., Bloch, D.A., McShane, D.J., Fries, J.F., Cooper, N.S., Healey, L.A., Kaplan, S.R., Liang, M.H., Luthra, H.S., Medsper, T.A., Mithchel D.M., Neustadt, D.H., Pinals, R.S., Schaller, J.G., Sharp, J.T., Wilder, R.L., Hunder, G.G. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1988, 31, 315–324.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Boerbooms, A.M., Jeurissen, M.E., Westgeest, A.A., Theunisse, H., Van-de-Putte, L.B. Methotrexate in refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 1988, 7, 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bog-Hansen, T.C. Crossed immuno-affinoelectrophoresis Anal Biochem 1973, 56, 480–488.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bowen, M., Rayses, J.G., Cooper, E.H., Glass, M. Changes in the relative amount of individual microheterogenous forms of serum alpha-1-antichymotrypsin in disease. In: Lectins, Vol II. Ed.: Bog-Hansen, T.C., Berlin de Gruyter 1992, 403–441.

  6. Davis, M.J., Dewes, P.T., Beswick, E., Lewin, I.V., Stanworth D.R. Sulphasalazine therapy in ankylosing spondylitis: its effects on disease activity, immunoglobulin A and the complex immunoglobulin A alpha-1-antitrypsin. Br J Rheumatol 1989, 28, 410413.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Davis, M.J., Dawes, P.T., Fowler, P.D., Shadforth, M.F., Stanworth, D.R. The association and predictive value of the complex immunoglobulin A-alpha-1-antitrypsin in the development of erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol 1991, 20, 2327.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dawes, P.T., Jackson, R., Shaforth, M.F., Lewin, I.V., Stanworth, D.R. The relationship between the complex of immunoglobulin A and alpha-1-antitrypsin, its constituent components and the acute-phase response as measured by C-reactive protein in rheumatoid arthritis treated with gold or D-penicillamine. Br J Rheumatol 1987, 26, 351–353.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Delemere, J.P., Farr, M., Grindulis, K.A. Sulphasalazine induced selective IgA deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis. Br Med J 1993, 286, 1547–1549.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Far, M., Struthers, G.R., Scott, D.G.I., Bacon, P.A. Fenclofenac induced selective IgA deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1985, 24, 367–369.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Fassbender, K., Zimmerli, W., Kissling, R., Sobieska, M., Aeschlimann, A., Kellner, M., Muller, W. Glycosylation of alpha 1 acid glycoprotein in relation to duration of disease in acute and chronic infection and inflammation. Clin Chim Acta 1991, 203, 315327.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hachulla, E., Laine, A., Hayem, A. Alpha 1-antichymotrypsin microheterogeneity in crossed immunoaffinoelectrophoresis with free concanavalin A: a useful diagnostic tool in inflammatory syndrome. Clin Chem 1988, 34, 911–915.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hrycaj, P., Sobieska, M., Mackiewicz, S., Muller, W. Microheterogeneity of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein in rheumatoid arthritis: dependent on disease duration. Ann Rheum Dis 52, 138141.

  14. Karrer, U., Aeschlimann, A., Fassbender, K., Vogt, P., Muller, W. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), loslicher Interleukin-2-Rezeptor (sIL-2R) und Mikroheterogenitat des alpha-1 sauren Glykoproteins (AGP): neue Marker der Akut-Phase-Reaktion? Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1992, 122, 233–236.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Koj, A. Definition and classification of acute phase proteins. In: The Acute Phase Response to Injury and Infection. Eds.: Gordon, A.H. and Koj, A. Amsterdam, New York, Oxford, Elsevier 1985, 139–144.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kremer, J.M. Methotrexate therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1989, 15, 533–556.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lansbury, J., Haut, D.D. Quantitation of the manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. Area of joint surfaces as an index to total joint inflammation and deformity. Am J Med Sci 1956, 232, 150–155.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Laurell, C.B. Quantitative estimation of proteins by electrophoresis in agarose gel containing antibodies. Scand J Clin Invest 1973, 124, (suppl.), 2–28.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Laurell, C.B., Grubb, A., Thulin, E. J chain and alpha-1 antitrypsin complex in sera with poly and monoclonal IgA. Ric Clin Lab 1976, 6 (suppl. 3), 57–67.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mackiewicz, A., Pawlowski, T., Mackiewicz-Pawlowska, A., Wiktorowicz, K., Mackiewicz, S. Microheterogeneity of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein as indicator of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Clin Chim Acta 1987, 163, 185–190.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mallya, R.K., Mace, B.E.W. The assessment of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis using a multivariate analysis. Rheumatol Rehabil 1981, 20, 14–17.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Pawlowski, T., Mackiewicz, A., Mackiewicz, S. Studies on microheterogeneity of acute phase protein in rheumatoid arthritis using crossed affinoimmuno-electrophoresis with free concanavalin A. Behring Inst Mitt 1986, 80, 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pawlowski, T., Mackiewicz, S.H., Mackiewicz, A. Microheterogeneity of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein in the detection of intercurrent infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1989, 32, 347–351.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pawlowski, T., Mackiewicz, A. Minor microheterogeneity of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein in rheumatoid arthritis. Prog Clin Biol Res 1989, 300, 223–226.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Perkins, S.J., Kerekaert, T.P., Louedeux-Lefebrve, M.H. The shapes of biantennary and tri/tetraantennary alpha-1 acid glycoprotein by small angle neutron and X-ray scattering. Eur J Biochem 1985, 147, 525–531.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Stanworth, D.R. The effect of D-penicillamine treatment on humoral immunological factors in clinical and experimental arthritis. In: Modulation of Autoimmunity and Disease. Eds.: Maini, R., Barry, H. New York, Praeper 1981, 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Struthers, G.R., Lewin, I.W., Stanworth, D.R. IgA-alpha-1 antitrypsin complex in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 1989, 48, 30–34.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weinblatt, M.E., Kremer, J.M. Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1988, 19, 126–128.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hochrhein Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Bad Saeckingen, German

    J. K. Lacki M.D. & T. Schochat

  2. Rheinfelden, Switzerland

    K. Klama

  3. Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Karol Marcinkowski University School of Medicine, Winogrady 144, 61-626, Poznan, Poland

    J. K. Lacki M.D. & W. Müller

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Karol Marcinkowski University School of Medicine, Poznan, Poland

    J. K. Lacki M.D. & S. H. Mackiewicz

Authors
  1. J. K. Lacki M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Schochat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Klama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. H. Mackiewicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lacki, J.K., Schochat, T., Klama, K. et al. Does methotrexate affect serum level of IgA-alpha-1 antitrypsin complex in early rheumatoid arthritis?. Clin Rheumatol 14, 566–569 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02208156

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02208156

Key words

Search

Navigation