Elevated Serum Levels of Zonulin Family Peptides in Anticitrullinated Protein Antibody-Positive At-Risk Individuals Without Arthritis.

Abstract

Recent advances imply that early events triggering rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occur at mucosal surfaces. We aimed to evaluate whether intestinal permeability is altered in patients at increased risk of RA, and/or predicts the development of clinical arthritis, by measuring serum zonulin family peptides (ZFP) levels, which are shown to reflect intestinal barrier integrity.