Prognostic significance of peripheral blood monocyte and neutrophil counts in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106420Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Highlights

  • High monocyte count and neutrophil count were associated with poor prognosis in RA-ILD.

  • The patients with high monocyte counts had lower survival rates than those with low.

  • The patients with high neutrophil counts had lower survival rates than those with low.

  • The monocyte high and neutrophil high group had the lowest survival rates.

  • Peripheral monocyte and neutrophil count are potential prognostic markers in RA-ILD.

Abstract

Objectives

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common pulmonary manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated with clinical heterogeneity and high mortality. This study aimed to determine whether non-invasive biomarkers, especially monocyte count in peripheral blood, would be useful for predicting outcomes in patients with RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 72 patients with RA-ILD. We assessed clinical characteristics, laboratory findings at the time of diagnosis. We used Cox proportional hazard analyses to determine significant variables associated with outcomes. Cumulative survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The median age was 68.6 years (58% male). The 5-year survival rate was 78.4%. Cox proportional hazard analyses adjusted by age and sex showed that increased monocyte count and neutrophil count were significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with RA-ILD. According to optimal cutoff levels, patients with high monocyte counts (≥458/μl) had significantly lower survival rates than those with low monocyte counts (<458/μl). Similarly, patients with high neutrophil counts (≥9394/μl) had significantly lower survival rates than those with low neutrophil counts (<9394/μl). Combinatorial assessments with peripheral monocyte and neutrophil counts revealed that the patients with both high monocyte and neutrophil counts had the lowest survival.

Conclusions

Increased monocyte and neutrophil counts might be potential cellular biomarkers to predict poor outcomes in patients with RA-ILD.

Key Indexing Terms

Monocytes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Interstitial lung disease
Prognosis

Cited by (0)