ABSTRACT
Serum and synovial fluid levels of transforming growth factor beta [TGF-beta], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1 beta] and hyaluronan in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were estimated. Twenty- three and twenty-two serum and synovial fluid [SF] samples were obtained from patients with osteoarthritis [OA] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and thirteen serum samples from age and sex matched controls. Serum TGF-beta, IL-1 beta and HA levels were significantly elevated in OA and RA patients compared with control group. The significant increase of these previous serum markers was observed in RA patients compared with OA patients, whereas no significant differences were obtained in SF TGF-beta levels between the two groups. On the other hand, SFHA levels were reduced significantly in OA and RA patients with high index radiological progression, whereas serum HA and SF IL-1 beta levels were elevated significantly in RA patients with high index radiological progression. In RA patients, SF IL-1 beta levels were also correlated significantly with the clinical variables. Concerning the biochemical markers interrelationship, SFHA levels were negatively correlated with SF IL-1 beta level and RA, respectively. Also, SFHA levels were correlated with SF TGF-beta-levels in OA and RA, respectively. Moreover, negative correlation was observed between serum HA and SFHA in RA patients