Melanoma inhibitory activity [MIA] and transforming growth factor- beta [TGF-beta] levels in the sera of juvenile arthritis

We measured serum levels of MIA and TGF-beta by means of ELISA and investigated whether they provide clinically relevant parameters in juvenile arthritis patients. We also evaluated their correlations with clinical and laboratory parameters. Serum was obtained from 10 poly-articular juvenile arthritis [pa-JRA [patients, 10 childhood systemic lupus erythematosus [ch-SLE] patients, 10 childhood systemic sclerosis]ch-SSC] patients and 10 apparently healthy children as a control group. Both MIA and TGF-beta serum concentrations were found to increase in both destructive [JRA] and non-destructive [ch-SLE and ch-SSc] juvenile arthritis. We found no correlation with disease activity, clinical or laboratory parameters except RF. MIA and TGF-beta are not serum markers of a specific disease. In addition, the presence of elevated MIA in the sera of juvenile arthritic patients very likely reflects passive release from necrotic or apoptotic chondrocytes and is partly due to chondrocyte activation. This is supported by the fact that MIA level was only associated with RF positivity and not with markers of inflammation

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in juvenile chronic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

To assess the incidence and clinical significance of ANCA in RA and JCA patients, and to study the relation between ANCA and granulocyte specific ANA. Serum antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were determined with indirect immunofluoresescent [IIF] technique in 20 RA and 12 JCA patients. ANCA was detected in sera from 10 RA patients [50%] and their titer ranged from 110-350 and JCA patients [25%], their titer ranged from 70-230. ANCA titer was not correlated with RF, disease duration and the presence of ANA. p-ANCA were found in 25% RA patients and 8% of JCA patients, c- ANCA were seen in 25% of RA patients and 17% of JCA patients. The laboratory and histologically proven nephropathy were seen in 25% of RA patients 8% of JCA patients, they were associated with p- ANCA. We concluded that early diagnosis of ANCA associated vasculitides is a key to prevent renal failure, and to measure the serum ANCA titer not only for the diagnosis the clinical course, but also to early treatment of renal affection

role of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the pathogenesis of arthritis

The objectives from this study was to compare serum levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1Ra] with synovial fluid levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and osteoarthritis [OA], and to correlate the level of the naturally occurring IL-1 inhibitor with indices of disease activity and severity in RA patients. A correlation was also done between IL-1Ra and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] with knee radiographs in OA patients as a parameter of disease severity. IL-1Ra and TNF-alpha were assessed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] in serum and synovial fluids in 20 female patients with RA, 20 female patients with OA and in the serum of 15 controls. We found that IL-1Ra and TNF-alpha concentrations were increased in both RA and OA sera compared with the control group. Although there was no significant difference between the concentration of serum IL-1Ra in RA patients when compared to those with OA, we observed that its mean level were higher in patients with RA. Moreover, IL-1Ra levels were correlated significantly with the levels of ESR, CRP as well as all the clinical parameters of disease activity measured in RA patients. We also found significant correlation between the synovial levels of both IL-1Ra and TNF-alpha in RA when compared to OA patients. The mean level of synovial IL-1Ra in RA patients is about twice that was found in OA patients. Our data reveal a consistent association between IL-1Ra production and disease activity and severity in RA patients. It also reveals a high serum and synovial IL-1Ra and TNF-alpha in OA patients that make us suggest that OA should be considered a disease with a systemic and local inflammatory response. Further studies are needed to determine the association of cytokines and its inhibitors in OA