Key clinical point: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were positive for anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA) antibody were less responsive to initial methotrexate treatment compared with patients negative for anti-SSA antibody.
Major finding: At 6 months, a significantly lower proportion of patients in the anti-SSA antibody positive vs negative group achieved low disease activity based on the 28-joint Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein (56.2% vs 75.8%; P = .03). Patients positive for anti-SSA antibody had a higher patient visual analogue score (median score 22 vs 19; P = .038) and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (37.5% vs 18.0%; P = .018).
Study details: This was a retrospective cohort study including 210 methotrexate- or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naive patients with RA who initiated methotrexate, of which 32 patients tested positive for anti-SSA antibody.
Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Waki D et al. Effects of anti-SSA antibodies on the response to methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective multicenter observational study. PLoS One. 2022; 17(7):e0271921 ( Jul 22). Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271921