Is CDAI comparable to DAS 28 and SDAI regarding inter-observer agreement and correlation to MHAQ in Egyptian RA patients?

Choosing between the different disease activity indices used for rheumatoid arthritis RA evaluation in clinical practice and research is often difficult. The aim of the current study was to compare clinical disease activity index (CDAI) to simplified disease activity index (SDAI), and disease activity score 28 (DAS28) regarding inter-observer reliability and correlation to the modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ) in a cohort of Egyptian RA patients. This study included one hundred RA patients. Every patient had an independent clinical evaluation made by two rheumatologists (professor and candidate) to evaluate disease activity using DAS28 with its 4 types, CDAI and SDAI. We used Cohen's weighted kappa coefficient to measure the inter-observer agreement between the professor and candidate in different disease activity measures. Correlation between MHAQ and disease activity measures was made with Spearman's rho test. Inter-observer agreement in CDAI and DAS28 values was almost perfect. A strong positive correlation was found between professor and candidate regarding the tested activity indices (p<0.001), and a positive correlation was found between MHAQ and all Disease Activity Scores made by both professor and candidate (p<0.001). CDAI proved to be comparable to other disease activity scores regarding inter-observer agreement and relation to MHAQ.

Pleiotrophin, the angiogenic and mitogenic growth factor: levels in serum and synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis : And correlation with clinical, laboratory and radiological indices.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported a possible involvement of pleiotrophin (PTN) in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) and very little is known about its role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study is to measure PTN in the sera and synovial fluids in RA and OA and to assess its relation to activity, functional class and radiological staging. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum and synovial fluid samples were collected from 35 RA patients and 40 knee OA patients and serum samples were withdrawn from 20 healthy controls. Demographic, clinical and serological data were prospectively assessed. Functional and radiographic grades were also assessed. Serum and synovial fluid PTN levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: There was no statistical significant differences (p > 0.05) on comparing the mean PTN level in sera of RA, OA patients and healthy controls. However the mean synovial fluid level of PTN in both patient groups was significantly higher than mean serum level (p < 0.001). Significant correlations between the serum PTN level and both morning stiffness duration (p = 0.008) and mHAQ score (p = 0.039) were only observed in RA patients. CONCLUSION: Our results point to a possible important role of PTN in RA and OA. We firstly report a serological pattern of PTN in the sera and synovial fluids of RA patients. However its implementation as a disease marker or a potential target therapy in both diseases awaits larger studies and further investigations.

Resistin in inflammatory and degenerative rheumatologic diseases. Relationship between resistin and rheumatoid arthritis disease progression.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: To assess and compare resistin levels in the serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA; an inflammatory rheumatologic disease) and osteoarthritis (OA; a degenerative rheumatologic disease) and to study the relationship between resistin levels and prognostic factors of RA disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 50 patients: 25 with RA and 25 with OA. Full case history was documented for all patients and all underwent a thorough clinical examination and laboratory testing. Body mass index (BMI) values were also calculated. Radiographs were made of OA patients' knees and RA patients' hands. Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) was calculated for RA patients. Serum and synovial fluid samples were obtained from the effused knees of all patients and tested for resistin level. RESULTS: Serum resistin levels were higher in RA patients than in those with OA (p < 0.01). Synovial fluid resistin levels were also higher in RA than OA patients (p < 0.001). While serum resistin levels correlated with Larsen score and total leukocyte count (TLC), synovial fluid resistin levels correlated with rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) levels in addition to Larsen score and TLC. CONCLUSION: Resistin levels were found to be higher in the serum and synovial fluid of RA patients than in those with OA. This may suggest a role for resistin in inflammatory rheumatologic diseases. The observed statistically significant correlation between synovial fluid resistin levels and RF, ACPA and Larsen score may suggest that high synovial fluid resistin levels can be considered a poor prognostic factor for RA progression. However, further studies employing a larger cohort of patients are needed to confirm the relevance of resistin as a prognostic marker in RA patients.