Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective To analyze the association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)exposure and rheumatoid arthritis(RA)based on large sample data. Methods The RA patients(RA group)and non-RA patients(non-RA group)with complete data were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Survey Database in the United States(NHANES)(2005—2014). The logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between 8 monohydroxylated(OH-)PAH metabolites in the urine and RA. Results A total of 357 RA patients and 5, 256 non-RA participants were included.After adjusting the confounding factors by logistic analysis, the level of OH-PAHs mixture at the highest quartile(Q4)was associated with increased risk of RA compared with that at the lowest quartile(Q1)(OR=1.60, 95%CI: 1.16-2.23). For a single kind of OH-PAHs, the Q4 levels of 1-hydroxynaphthalene(OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.14-2.23), 2-hydroxynaphthalene(OR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.19-2.32), 2-hydroxyfluorene(OR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.17-2.22), 3-hydroxyfluorene(OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.18-2.27)and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene(OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.00-1.94)were all associated with significantly increased risk of RA compared with the Q1 level(all P<0.05). However, the Q2 level of 1-hydroxypyrene(OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.43-0.83)was related to a decreased incidence of RA(P<0.01). Conclusions OH-PAHs mixed exposure is a risk factor for RA.The association between the level of individual OH-PAH and the rate of RA is bidirectional and is depended on the type and concentration of OH-PAHs. Key words: Arthritis, rheumatoid; Polycyclic compounds; Hydrocarbons, aromatic