RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the consequence of a persistent imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune mechanisms, leading to chronic inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine whether the high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cytokines are elevated in RA patients and to investigate the relationship between these markers and disease activity in RA, measured by disease activity score 28 (DAS28). METHODS: We studied 110 RA patients according to American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for RA, and 55 controls matched by age and sex. Serum levels of hs-CRP and cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) were estimated and correlated with the DAS28. Serum hs-CRP was assayed immunoturbidimetrically and cytokines were analysedby commercially available ELISA kit. RESULTS: We found that RA patients had significantly higher levels of serum hs-CRP (p < 0.001),IL-6 (p < 0.001), TNF- (p < 0.001), and IL-10 (p < 0.01) as compared to healthy controls. hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF- correlated positively (p < 0.001) and IL-10 correlated negatively (p < 0.01) with DAS28. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that RA patients have high levels of inflammatory markers, and these levels are correlated with the DAS28. These findings suggest a possible role of these markers in the pathogenesis of RA. Moreover, these biomarkers can be used as markers of disease activity in the diagnosis and treatment of RA
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