Pyridinium crosslinks excretion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Correlation with disease activity and glucocorticoid treatment.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, significant positive correlations were found between urinary pyridinium crosslinks and C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and articular index. Also an inverse correlation was observed between pyridinium crosslinks excretion and grip strength. Glucocorticoid therapy, equivalent to daily doses of 7.5 mg of prednisolone or less, did not appear to have deleterious effect on bone metabolism in these patients as measured by urinary pyridinium crosslinks.