RESUMO
Nodal Osteoarthritis is a subset of OA characterized by polyarticularinterphalangeal and thumb base OA ,Heberden'sand Bouchard's nodes formation.C-reactive protein [CRP] is one of the first acute phase response proteins to be elevated in an inflammatory processes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the inflammatory processes have roles in the development of nodal osteoarthritis [NOA] in Iraqi femalepatients using serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein as aninflammatory marker. The study included eighty four females, divided into two main groups,sixty were patients with [NOA], and twenty-four represented the control group. Other subdivisions were applied according to body mass index and menopause status. Measurement of serum [hsCRP], wasapplied to all subjects included in this study, by ELISA sandwich method. Serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hsCRP] level was significantly higher [18.08 +/- 8.15] [P value < 0.05] in patients with NOA in comparison to control group [2.23 +/- 1.73]. Highly significant elevated level of serum [hsCRP] observed in the NOA patients compared to control suggest that the inflammatory processes have roles in the development of NOA