ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects many tissues and organs, but principally attacks flexible [synovial] joints. Methotrexate is the most commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methotrexate on serum levels of IL-1alpha and IL-8 in rheumatoid arthritis. Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [25 patients without treatment and 25 patients are received methotraxate] and from 30 healthy age and sex matched individuals served as controls. Serum IL-1alpha and IL-8 were measured by means of enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. The present results showed that serum levels of IL-1alpha and IL-8 were significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls [P<0.01], furthermore, level of IL-1alpha was significantly decrease in patients treated with methotraxate as compared to those patients who have received no treatment [P<0. 01]. On the other hand serum level of IL-8 didn't showed any significant differences between patients treated with methotraxate and those patients without treatment [P>0. 05]. These finding demonstrate that methotrexate turns out to be a good inhibitor for IL-alpha production. In addition, IL-1alpha and IL-8 may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, and could be use as.