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
RESUMO
Fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] is a common rheumatologic syndrome with multiple manifestations and associated with many diseases, it characterized by chronic wide spread muscular pain and tenderness. Further, circulatory levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-8 and others may be altered in FMS patients, possibly associated with their symptoms.The objective of the study is to measure IL-8 concentration and to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of primary FMS. Fifty patients with primary FMS were included in the study [37 females and 13 males] the age range of [17-65] years [Mean +/- SD] [40.13 +/- 12.0] years, and thirty healthy individuals volunteers [21 females and 9 males], whose age and sex matching with FMS patients, age ranging [18-63] years, [Mean +/- SD] [36.1 +/- 10.0] years. IL-8 concentration was measured in sera of patients and controls by ELISA kit. Anthropometric measurements like body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WCr] were taken, besides other features like sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and fatigue were reported. IL-8 concentration was higher in FMS patients than controls[40.24 +/- 22.0] pg/ml vs. [19.16 +/- 7.8] pg/ml. This elevation was highly significant statistically [p=0.000].Other measurements in patients group like BMI, WCr were[28.39 +/- 5.0] Kg/m2 and [100.34 +/- 13.21] cm respectively .These values were highly significant when compared to their control group [p=0.002]and [p=0.008] respectively .Clinical features like sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and fatigue showed highly significant difference between the two groups . No significant differences were reported with respect to age and sex. The result of the current study suggest that interleukin-8, [IL-8] might have a role in the pathogenesis of FMS