ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory joint disease with 1 percent prevalence in community which presents with symmetrical polyarthritis of hands with inflammatory behavior. Several studies in recent years were conducted for evaluation of inflammatory cytokines such as ILl-alpha [Interleukin la] and TNF- alpha [Tumor necrosis factor] in rheumatologic disorders including rheumatoid arthritis to find new treatment methods base to pathogenesis. In this study different serum levels of ILl-alpha and TNF- alpha in 160 rheumatoid arthritis patients with active and inactive disease and also disease with or without bone erosion are assessed. 4% of our patients had rheumatoid nodule and 70% of all patients had positive RF, ILl-alpha, and TNF- alpha levels. Active with bone erosion patients had ILl-alpha and TNF- alpha serum levels higher than active without bone erosion patients; it was not significant in T-test but it was significant in Mann-Whitney Test. The results was the same as expected; ILl-alpha, and TNF- alpha serum levels were higher in active with bone erosion in comparison with inactive without bone erosion patients