Anti-CD74 IgA is not associated with modic changes in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort

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Abstract
Objectives Chronic low back pain is a common symptom in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and in patients with degenerative spinal disease associated with Modic changes (MC) on MRI. A clear distinction between axSpA and MC might be difficult in early disease, particularly in the absence of axSpA sacroiliac changes. Therefore, a diagnostic serum biomarker for ambiguous cases would be useful. To evaluate if the potential diagnostic biomarker anti-CD74 for axSpA is elevated in patients with MC as well, we measured this antibody in patients with MC and healthy controls. We presumed that a negative anti-CD74 antibody in MC would be helpful to distinguish it from axSpA. Method Participants from the NFBC1966 with MC and matched participants without MC were included in this study. Anti-CD74 immunoglobulin A (IgA) was measured with a commercially available kit. An association between continuous log-transformed anti-CD74 IgA was evaluated with a linear regression model adjusted for body mass index (BMI), sex, C-reactive protein (CRP), and presence of low back pain. Results The study involved 307 participants, 148 with MC and 159 without MC. There was no association between MC and continuous anti-CD74 IgA after adjustment for potential confounders (Exp(B) = 1.3, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.1). None of the participants with MC had elevated anti-CD74 IgA above the cut-off of 15 U/ml. Conclusions Anti-CD74 IgA is not elevated in patients with MC. Further studies comparing directly patients with axSpA and MC are required to evaluate if it is a diagnostic tool to differentiate axSpA and MC in unclear cases. Key Points • Anti-CD74 IgA are not elevated in patients with Modic changes on MRI.
Funding Information
  • MLR foundation
  • University of Oulu Grant (24000692)
  • Oulu University Hospital Grant (24301140)
  • European Regional Development Fund (539/2010 A31592)

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