Mannose-binding lectin deficiency and miscarriages in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between mannose-binding lectin (MBL) serum level and MBL2 polymorphisms, and the frequency of spontaneous miscarriages in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: One hundred seventy seven women (mean age 50 years) with RA from Southern Brazil were studied and 4.5% had a history of abortion (8/177). The MBL levels were determined by ELISA. MBL2 polymorphisms in the promoter (−550H/L, −221X/Y), 5′ untranslated region (4 P/Q) and exon 1 (p.Gly54Asp: B allele, p.Arg52Cys: D allele and p.Gly57Glu: C allele; collectively labelled O) were genotyped by sequencing.

Results: Mannose-binding lectin levels of RA patients ranged from ≤100 ng/mL to 6640 ng/mL (median 541.5 ng/mL). There was a significant difference in MBL median levels (100 ng/mL vs. 625 ng/mL, respectively, p = .001) and frequency of MBL deficiency (75.0% vs. 24.1%, p = .007, OR = 10.3, 95%CI = 1.9–55.4), in patients with a history of miscarriage vs those without it. Patients with RA and miscarriage had more frequently haplotypes related with low MBL levels (p = .007, OR = 10.5, 95%CI = 1.3–84) than high producers. Moreover, LYPB haplotype and O allele were significantly associated with the occurrence of miscarriage (p = .001, OR = 9.7, 95%CI = 2.4–39.1 and p = .009, OR = 5.9, 95%CI = 1.4–23.4, respectively).

Conclusions: The results suggest that MBL deficiency and the presence of MBL2 gene polymorphisms that lead to MBL deficiency are risk factors for the occurrence of miscarriage in patients with RA.

Keywords:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• mannose-binding lectin
• miscarriage

Acknowledgements

The authors are especially grateful to all patients and employees of the Rheumatology Unit of the Evangelic Hospital of Curitiba for their participation and support.

Disclosures statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

IG is supported by a fellowship from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq).