Type I collagen degradation does not diminish with RA disease duration.

OBJECTIVE To assess the relation between type I collagen degradation and the duration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The serum concentrations of cross linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) measured earlier in a community based series (90 patients) and a hospital based series (59 patients) were re-evaluated with reference to the duration of RA. RESULTS The serum ICTP showed a positive correlation with the duration of the disease in the hospital based series (r(s)=0.40, p<0.01) but not in the community based one (r(s)=0.18, p=0.10). CONCLUSIONS Type I collagen degradation predominantly reflecting pathological bone destruction does not seem to diminish in longlasting RA.