Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37607441›Full record

ArticleSeminars in arthritis and rheumatism2023

Disentangling heterogeneity in contemporary undifferentiated arthritis - A large cohort study using latent class analysis.

N K den Hollander, M Verstappen, B T van Dijk, A H M van der Helm-van Mil, H W van Steenbergen

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Article in Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

N K den HollanderDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands. Electronic address: n.k.den_hollander@lumc.nl.
M VerstappenDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
B T van DijkDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
A H M van der Helm-van MilDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
H W van SteenbergenDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.

Funding

European Research Council 714312
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesUndifferentiated arthritis(UA) is clinically heterogeneous and differs in outcomes ranging from spontaneous resolution to RA-development. Therefore, we hypothesized that subgroups exist within UA and we aimed to identify homogeneous groups based on clinical features, and thereafter to relate these groups to the outcomes spontaneous resolution and RA-development. These outcomes can only be studied in UA-patients in which DMARD-treatment does not influence the natural disease course; these cohorts are scarce.

methodsWe studied autoantibody-negative UA-patients (not fulfilling 1987/2010 RA-criteria, no alternate diagnosis), included in the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic between 1993 and 2006, when early DMARD-treatment in UA was infrequent. Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups based on combinations of clinical features. Within these subgroups, test-characteristics were assessed for spontaneous resolution of arthritis and RA-development within 1 year.

results310 consecutive UA-patients were studied. Five classes were identified: location and number of swollen joints were most distinguishing. Classes were characterized by: 1) polyarthritis, often symmetric; 2) oligoarthritis, frequently with subacute onset; 3) wrist-monoarthritis, often with subacute onset, increased BMI and without morning stiffness; 4) small-joint monoarthritis, often without increased acute phase reactants, and 5) large-joint monoarthritis, often with subacute onset. Studying the classes in relation to the outcomes revealed that patients without spontaneous resolution (thus having persistent disease) were nearly absent in the classes characterized by monoarthritis (specificity >90%). Additionally, patients who developed RA were infrequent in monoarthritis classes (sensitivity <7%).

conclusionUsing a data-driven unsupervised approach, five subgroups within contemporary UA were identified. These have differences in the natural course of disease.

Indexed as

Antirheumatic AgentsArthritisArthritis, RheumatoidCohort StudiesDisease ProgressionHumansLatent Class AnalysisAntirheumatic AgentsRA-developmentRheumatoid arthritisspontaneous resolutionSubgroupsUndifferentiated arthritis

Identifiers

PMID37607441
PMCPMC7615885

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