Abstract
Objective
Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) regulates bone remodeling in animal models of inflammatory arthritis, but its role in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear.
Methods
Baseline circulating Dkk-1 was measured in 113 patients with RA (< 3 yrs) who received etanercept (10 or 25 mg twice/week, n = 63) or methotrexate alone (n = 40) for 1 year. Progression was assessed by changes in radiological Sharp score.
Results
Increased Dkk-1 was associated with a higher risk of progression of bone erosion, independently of age, sex, baseline radiological damage, C-reactive protein, and disease activity in patients treated with etanercept.
Conclusion
Dkk-1 may be an important mediator of bone erosion in patients with RA.
Key Indexing Terms:Footnotes
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P. Garnero, PhD, DSc, INSERM Research Unit 664, and Synarc, Biochemical Markers; N. Charni-Ben Tabassi, PhD; N. Voorzanger-Rousselot, PhD, Synarc, Biochemical Markers.
- Accepted for publication July 3, 2008.