ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the serum expressions and clinical significance of Dickkopf-1 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The clinical data of 139 patients with RA were retrospectively analyzed, including the disease history, tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), platelet, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), antikeratin antibody (AKA), anti-perinuclear factor (APF), anti cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), Dickkopf-1 and radiological (X-ray) staging. The disease activity scale (DAS) was evaluated, and the ESR and CRP levels were included. The relationship between Dickkopf-1 and the clinical data of RA, DAS44 score was analyzed. Results The serum level of Dickkopf-1 in patients with RA was (2.70 ± 0.46) μg/L. There was no relationship between serum Dickkopf-1 level and gender, age, course of disease, CRP, platelet, ANA, AKA, APF, RF, radiological staging in patients with RA (P>0.05). The serum Dickkopf-1 level was significantly associated with TJC, SJC, ESR, DAS44-ESR score, DAS44-CRP score and anti-CCP (r = 0.200, 0.291, 0.178, 0.222, 0.199 and 0.278, P = 0.019, 0.001, 0.037, 0.009, 0.028 and 0.012). Conclusions The serum Dickkopf-1 expression level is closely related to the occurrence and development of RA. Dickkopf-1 may contribute to diagnose the disease activity in patients with RA.