ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is mainly concerned with macrophage mobilizing function, as the upper stream cytokine of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which may have critical effect in the process of the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlations between the change of serum MIF and the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Non-randomized control and case study, which was carried out in the Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese PLA from September in 2005 to October in 2006.PARTICIPANTS: Sixty RA patients were included in this study, and other thirty healthy subjects were selected as the control group. There were significant differences in age and sex between the two groups. METHODS: Clinical data of sixty RA patients were selected by carrying out retrospective analysis, then on the basis of disease activity score (DAS) accumulated points, they were divided into active and inactive group respectively, who were contrasted with 30 health adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Morning stiffness (in minutes), joint tenderness index, arthrocele index, semi-quantity rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein concentration (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and platelet count (PLT) were recorded; ② To compare the level of serum MIF, IL-1β and TNF-α among active group, inactive group, and control group; ③ The correlation analysis was carried out among the level of serum MIF, inflammatory index and clinical observation index.RESULTS: There was significantly increased in serum MIF of patients in the active group compared to of inactive and normal groups (P < 0.05), but there were no significantly differences between inactive and control groups (P > 0.05). There were significant correlations between the serum MIF concentration and active inflammatory index of RA disease, blood sedimentationrate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet counting (PLT), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), swell joint index (SJI) and tenderness joint, but no significant difference was observed between the serum MIF, age, disease course, morning stiffness and rheumatoid factor (RF).CONCLUSION: The serum MIF concentration is significantly increased in patients with RA, and it may be a useful parameter for monitoring disease activity of RA.