Study of resistin and YKL-40 in rheumatoid arthritis

To investigate the association between serum and synovial fluid levels of both resistin and YKL-40 with markers of inflammation, disease activity and radiographic grading and to determine if they have a role in the pathogenesis of RA. This study was conducted on 30 patients with RA and 15 healthy controls with acute post traumatic knee effusion. Serum and synovial fluid levels of both resistin and YKL-40 were measured in patients and controls using ELISA technique. Plain x-ray of hands, wrists and feet were done for all patients and assessed according to Larsen score. Serum levels of resistin and YKL-40 were significantly higher in RA patients than controls and in active RA than in non active patients. Also, their levels significantly correlated with CRP, ESR, RF, disease activity parameters and Larsen score. Furthermore, synovial levels of resistin and YKL-40 were significantly higher than that of the serum, and synovial YKL-40 levels showed significant correlation with CRP, ESR, RF, disease activity parameters and Larsen score. On the other hand, resistin synovial levels significantly correlated with CRP, ESR, RF and synovial leucocytic count. Resistin and YKL-40 were increased in the serum and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Their serum levels correlated with markers of inflammation, parameters of disease activity and radiographic progression of joint damage. These results suggested the key roles of resistin and YKL-40 in the pathogenesis of RA and they may be important new therapeutic targets

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies and soluble adhesion molecules in rheumatoid arthritis complicated with peripheral neuropathy

To examine whether levels of anti-endothelial cell antibodies [AECA], soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [sVCAM-1 and E-selectin were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis [RA] patients complicated with peripheral neuropathy [PN] as compared to RA patients without neuropathy and healthy controls. Also, to correlate these criteria with the parameters of disease activity. Levels of AECA, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin were determined with ELISA in 30 RA patients with PN, 30 RA patients without neuropathy and 25 healthy controls. RA patients with PN had significantly higher levels of AECA, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin than RA patients without neuropathy and healthy controls. Those three markers significantly correlated with the clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity. Serum levels of AECA, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin proved to be higher in RA patients with PN than in RA patients without neuropathy. This reflects increased endothelial cell activation in RA patients complicated with neuropathy