Expanded blood PD-1hi Tfh cells in seropositive clinically suspect arthralgia predict progression to rheumatoid arthritis
Authors' conclusion
Seropositive CSA patients display elevated baseline cTfh and cTph frequencies. Higher cTfh proportions associate with progression to RA.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA, EULAR definition), followed until rheumatoid arthritis (RA) onset or for up to 48 months
- Exposure
- Seropositive and seronegative CSA vs healthy controls (HC); progressors vs non-progressors
- Seropositive CSAn = 33
- Seronegative CSAn = 37
- Outcome
- Circulating Tfh (cTfh) and Tph (cTph) cell frequencies in CSA
- Follow-up
- Baseline
Methodological detailsnon-interventional, age- and gender-matched healthy controls, flow cytometry
- Non-interventional
- Age- and gender-matched healthy controls
- Flow cytometry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Baseline cTfh and cTph frequencies
- Seropositive CSA vs HC: expanded frequencies of circulating Tfh (cTfh) and cTph cells
- Seronegative CSA vs HC: not expanded
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Baseline cTfh and cTph in seropositive CSA, progressors vs non-progressors
- Progressors to RA had higher baseline cTfh and cTph frequencies than non-progressors
cTfh frequency >0.66% predicting progression to RA
- Sensitivity
- 72%
- Specificity
- 85%
cTph and cTfh at RA onset, seropositive progressors (n = 19)
- Further increase in cTph, but not cTfh, frequency
Original publication
Expanded blood PD-1hi Tfh cells in seropositive clinically suspect arthralgia predict progression to rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 4 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →