Using Hemoglobin to Predict Rheumatoid Arthritis Progression

In a study in Arthritis Research & Therapy, researchers assessed baseline hemoglobin levels for relationships with radiographic progression over time in patients with rheumatoid arthritis within the Brigham and Women’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study (BRASS) registry.

According to the study’s lead author, Nancy Shadick, based on total sharp scores, individuals with low baseline hemoglobin levels did tend to have increased radiographic progression over time when compared with patients with rheumatoid arthritis and normal hemoglobin levels at baseline.

Predicting Rheumatoid Arthritis Progression With Hemoglobin

The authors’ analysis enrolled 1114 patients from the BRASS registry, and stratified them by baseline hemoglobin per World Health Organization criteria. Researchers assessed mean hemoglobin, mean total sharp score, and mean changes over time  from baseline to month 120.

A total of 224 (20%) patients had low hemoglobin levels at baseline. According to the report, these patients had longer disease duration, higher disease activity, and more self-reported pain compared with patients with normal baseline hemoglobin levels (n=890).

Furthermore, investigators found patients with low baseline hemoglobin continued to have lower hemoglobin levels than those with normal baseline hemoglobin throughout 10 years; although patients with low baseline levels did demonstrate a steady increase in hemoglobin.

Additionally, patients with low hemoglobin had a larger increase in total sharp score over time versus patients with normal levels. Authors noted there were no significant differences between patients when categorized by medications at baseline.

Ultimately, based on their analyses of real-world data, Shadick and colleagues suggested patients with rheumatoid arthritis with lower hemoglobin levels may be associated with increased radiographic progression over time.

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