Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin depends on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Changes in the glycosylation of plasma proteins have been linked to the aetiology of the rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHOD: Studies were carried out in 29 female patients with RA, 27 with SSc, and 17 with SLE. CDT was assayed by the N Latex CDT immunonephelometric assay. RESULTS: The levels of %CDT in the sera of RA, SLE, and SSc patients were significantly higher than in controls while the absolute concentrations of CDT were unchanged. %CDT, CDT, and transferrin do not differ significantly between patients with rheumatic diseases. In RA and SSc patients, a positive correlation was observed between %CDT and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as a positive correlation in RA patients between %CDT and 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). CONCLUSIONS: The changes in the serum %CDT concentration in patients with RA and SSc correlated with disease activity markers.

Relationship between CDT and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of this study was to estimate the serum concentration of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the relationship between the CDT level and disease activity in RA patients. Studies were carried out in 47 female patients with RA and 32 healthy women. Disease activity of RA was evaluated using the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS 28). Serum CDT was determined by particle-enhanced immunononephelometry using the N Latex CDT test. Patients with RA had significantly lower serum concentrations of CDT compared with controls. The correlation study showed the significant negative relationship between CDT and DAS 28 (r = - 0.483, p = 0.011). There were no correlations between serum CDT level and patient's age, disease duration, number of tender and swollen joints, and degree of disability evaluated by the Health Assessment Questionnaire. The level of CDT in patients with RA was significantly decreased and confirms the changes in transferrin glycosylation which are dependent on the disease activity. Therefore, measurement of CDT in the sera of patients with RA can be useful for the evaluation of disease activity in these patients.