Linkage Analysis of Rheumatoid Arthritis Considering Sex and Anti-CCP Levels
Author Information
Author(s): Lebrec Jérémie JP, Helmer Quinta, Nishchenko Iryna, van Houwelingen Hans C
Primary Institution: Leiden University Medical Center
Hypothesis
Can incorporating population effects of sex and anti-CCP levels improve linkage analysis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Conclusion
Adjusting for anti-CCP levels significantly affects the analysis of rheumatoid arthritis, while adjusting for sex has a negligible effect.
Supporting Evidence
- The method allows for the inclusion of unaffected individuals, potentially improving power for common diseases.
- The analysis adjusting for anti-CCP levels showed substantial effects on linkage analysis.
- Peaks on chromosomes 1, 9, and 10 were attributed to anti-CCP levels and should be interpreted with caution.
Takeaway
This study looks at how factors like gender and a specific antibody level can change our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis genetics.
Methodology
The study used a generalized linear mixed model to analyze linkage in families with rheumatoid arthritis, incorporating sex and anti-CCP levels as covariates.
Limitations
The analysis was limited by the scarcity of anti-CCP data in healthy individuals.
Participant Demographics
Approximately 90% Caucasian families, mostly affected sib pairs.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website