study of iron status in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its correlation with disease activity

This study was conducted on 40 subjects, 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [R.A. Group] with disease duration 1-16 years and normal healthy persons [control group]. All subjects had full clinical examination including articular index score and laboratory investigations. 15 of the R. A. patients [50%] were shown to have anemia. In 5 patients [33.3%], it was iron deficiency anemia, while in 10 patients [66.7%], it was anemia of chronic disorders. Statistical comparison revealed significant increase in the ESR [p < 0.005] in the group of nonanemic R. A. patients as compared to the control group. Correlation studies of the 10 R. A. patients with anemia of chronic disorders [with normal or raised serum ferritin level] showed that a nonsignificant correlation was found between disease duration and each of Hb, serum iron and serum ferritin. A significant inverse correlation was found between Hb level and each of the parameters of disease activity [morning stiffness, articular index and ESR] i.e. The more the disease activity the more the degree of anemia, while nonsignificant correlation was found with serum iron and serum ferritin. It was concluded that in R.A. patients, anemia is a common feature being present in 50% of the patients. The degree of anemia corresponded with R. A. activity. Serum ferritin is a good indicator of iron stores and hence is valuable in the differentiation between these 2 types of anemia. Thus, serum ferritin can be used as an indicator of iron responsive anemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

effects of acute smoking on plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors in habitual smokers

There is increased drequency of arterial thrombosic in cigarette smokers. The relation between making and thrombosis has studied by many authors. The changes in the fibrinolytic system seen in our subjects have been studied by many authors but the results are not always in agreement. We wished to study some the effect of acute smoking on the activity of plasminogen activity [PA] and plasminogen activator inhibitor [PAI]. Ten apparently healthy male smoking volunteers were investigated together with 10 non-smoking controls matched for sex and age. All smoking subjects had smoked 15-20 cigarettes per day for at least the previous four years. They had abstained from smoking in the 10 hours preceding the test. Each subject had smoked 3 cigarettes over 3 minules. Immediately before and after smoking, body was sampled for evaluation of both PA and PAI. The baseline salute obtained before smoking were compared with values obtained after smoking and with values of non smokers. Comparison between smokers before smoking and in smokers showed non significant different in PAA and PAI. Comparison between smokers before and after smoking of 3 cigarettes [i.e. effect] of acute smoking], showed a significant decrease n PA, but a non difference in PAI. Comparison between smokers after smoking with non-smokers showed a decrease in PA, though insignificant, and a non significant difference in PAI. We can conclude that this acute decrease of PA may be a serious cause inducing thrombosis events, and this decrease may cause endothelial damage secondary to smoking

Plasma fibrinogen and factor XIII in chronic renal failure

The study was conducted on 40 individual: ten patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] on conservative treatment [group I], 20 patients with end stage renal disease [E.S.R.D] undergoing regular hemodialysis [group II], and 10 normal contorls. All subjects were subjected to estimation of serum creatinine, plasma fibrinogen level and assay of plasma factor XIII activity. Comparison between control group and each of group I and II have shown significant increase in plasma fibrinogen and significant decrease in plasma factor XIII activitiy in both groups of patients [I and II]. Comparison between both groups of patients [I and II] has shown that there was no significant change in all parameters studied between them. The increased plasma fibrinogen level found in our work may be due to the fact that it is an acute phase reactant protein, while the decreased factor XIII activity may be due to consumption destruction, diminished synthesis or the presence of circulating uremic inhibitor