A1.74 Serum levels of CXCL13 are increased in untreated patients with rheumatoid arthritis from the first weeks of disease development

Background and Objectives CXCL13 (C-X-C motif ligand 13), also known as B-cell chemo-attractant, is an important B-cell chemokine that directly affects the migration and organization of B cells within follicles of lymphoid tissues. CXCL13 plays an important role as a major regulator of B-cell recruitment towards secondary lymphoid organs and inflammatory sites and it has recently been proposed as a serum biomarker of synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to quantify CXCL13 serum levels in untreated very early polyarthritis patients to understand the dynamics of B-cell trafficking since early disease onset. Materials and Methods CXCL13 levels were measured by ELISA in serum samples from untreated very early RA (VERA) with Results We found that untreated polyarthritis patients with Conclusions CXCL13 serum levels were significantly increased in untreated polyarthritis patients who subsequently resolved into a clinical diagnosis of RA. This was found in both early RA cohorts (VERA and ERA). Although VERA and VENRA (