A NEW study has found that a simple blood-based biomarker, known as the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, may provide important prognostic information for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The study analysed data from over 19,000 individuals, including 1,101 RA patients, enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2010. Researchers calculated the CALLY index using albumin, lymphocyte count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a combination reflecting inflammatory, nutritional, and immune status.
Key findings revealed an L-shaped relationship between the CALLY index and all-cause mortality in RA patients. Those with higher CALLY scores had significantly lower mortality risk, with a hazard ratio of 0.62 for those above the threshold value of 12.79. Below this cutoff, the risk of death increased steeply.
“The results suggest that CALLY is not just a laboratory marker but a powerful indicator of survival in rheumatoid arthritis,” the authors noted. “RA patients with lower index values may benefit from closer monitoring and more comprehensive management strategies targeting inflammation and nutritional support.”
The study also found that the predictive power of the CALLY index was strongest in male patients under the age of 60, suggesting potential for targeted risk stratification in younger populations.
These findings underscore the potential of the CALLY index as a simple and cost-effective tool for improving long-term care in RA patients. Routine measurement could help identify those at highest risk and support decisions about early intervention.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Zhang J et al. The C-reactive protein (CRP)-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index exhibits an L-shaped association with all-cause mortality in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Rheumatol. 2025;DOI: 10.1186/s41927-025-00499-7.
