Compared with that in healthy controls[28.0 (21.7-36.1)ng/mL], the MMP-3 in the low groups [51.8(41.8-73.1)ng/mL] increased dramatically ( Z=2.942, P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the MMP-3 in remission patients [28.8 (21.9-38.7)ng/mL] compared with the healthy controls ( Z=1.09, P>0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of MMP-3 for diagnosis of RA was 0.877. the sensitivity was 73.1%, and the specificity was 93%.The AUC of MMP-3 diagnosis of low groups was 0.906, the sensitivity was 77.8%, and the specificity was 88%. In addition, the MMP-3 level was correlated with CRP and ESR ( r=0.242, r=0.243), and it was significantly correlated with DAS 28 ( r=0.361).
Conclusions:
It was indicated that the level of MMP-3 increased with the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. And the clinically low level of MMP-3 in RA patients could be used to indicate the remission condition. Meanwhile, the serumMMP-3 was closely related to DAS28.