ABSTRACT
In this study Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the serum concentration of corss-linked carboxy terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [ICTP] as a serum marker for bone collagen degradation in rheumatoid arthritis [RA] patients. 30 patients having [RA] were subdivided into two subgroups according to disease activity. One subgroup concluded 15 patients having active rheumatoid, the other subgroup concluded 15 patients having inactive [RA]. The 30 patients were also divided according to steroid therapy administration, where 14 patients received steroid and 16 patients did not receive steroid at all. In addition to 15 patients healthy control subjects. All patients and control were females, the mean age was 38.1 +/- 3.8 years old and 36.9 +/- 3.5 years old respectively [P>0.05] i.e. statistically insignificant. Our results showed that s. [ICTP] was increased in patients in comparison to control, the mean was 6.7 +/- 2.3 mg/L and 3.5 +/- 0.5 mg/L respectively [P< 0.001] which is highly significant. Higher levels of [ICTP] were found in active [RA] group than inactive group, the mean was 8.30 +/- 2.3 mg/L and 5.14 +/- 0.6 mg/L respectively [P< 0.00 1] which is highly significant. There was no, significant differences in s.[ICTP] between patients on steroid therapy and that who were not, the mean was 7.7 +/- 2.8 mg/L and 5.8 +/- 1.3 mg/L [P> 0.05] which is not significant. In conclusion, serum [ICTP] level was elevated in patients having rheumatoid arthritis and correlated positively with disease activity, serum [ICTP] however, is not influenced by steroid intake in those patients