ABSTRACT
This study was done to detect the serum level of soluble L-selectin [sL-selectin] and plasma level of fibronectin [pFN] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and compare these levels to normal healthy controls. The aim extends to determine the relation of these levels to clinical parameters of disease activity. Fifty patients with RA as well as twenty healthy persons- as a control group- were included into this study. All patients were subjected to full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations. sL-selectin and pFN were measured in patients and controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, and their correlations with disease activity parameters were studied. Serum levels of sL-selectin and pFN were highly significantly increased in RA patients as compared to healthy controls [p<0.001]. These levels also showed a highly statistically significant correlation with some parameters of RA disease activity [p<0.001]. This rise was more evident in patients with severe disease activity sL-selectin and pFN levels are elevated in RA patients especially in those with a severely active disease. The might reflect their role in the pathogenesis of RA. The correlation of sL-selectin and pFN with clinical parameters of RA patients may help in evaluation of progression or remission of the disease