scholarly journals Interleukin-37 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine: does its relation to disease activity suggest its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis therapy?

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman A. Baraka ◽  
Mona G. Balata ◽  
Shereen H. Ahmed ◽  
Afaf F. Khamis ◽  
Enas A. Elattar
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Background This study aimed to measure the serum and synovial interleukin (IL)-37 levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (PKOA) and healthy controls and to detect its relation to RA disease activity. Results This cross-sectional study included 50 RA patients with a mean age of 40.24 ± 8.62 years, 50 patients with PKOA with a mean age of 56.69 ± 4.21, and 40 healthy controls with a mean age of 41.75 ± 7.38 years. The mean serum IL-37 level in the RA patients (382.6 ± 73.97 pg/ml) was statistically significantly (P < 0.001) the highest among the studied groups; however, it showed a non-significant difference between the PKOA patients (70.38 ± 27.49 pg/ml) and the healthy controls (69.97 ± 25.12 pg/ml) (P > 0.94). Both serum and synovial IL-37 levels were significantly positively correlated with disease activity scores (r = 0.92, P< 0.001 and r = 0.85, P < 0.001), tender joint counts (r = 0.83, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001 ), swollen joint counts (r = 0.72, P < 0.001 and r = 0.60, P < 0.001), visual analog scale (r = 0.82, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.75, P < 0.001 and r = 0.65, P < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.93, P < 0.001 and r = 0.79, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion Serum and synovial IL-37 were significantly elevated in the RA patients, and they were closely correlated. Being less invasive, the serum IL-37 could be a marker of disease activity and could reflect the effective disease control by drugs. Having an anti-inflammatory effect could not suggest IL-37 as the key player to control inflammation alone, but its combination with other anti-proinflammatory cytokines could be investigated.

scholarly journals Factors affecting carotid intimal medial thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an analytical cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 628
Author(s):  
K. M. Prabhuswamy ◽  
M. Virgin Joena
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Media Thickness ◽  
The Mean

Background: IMT assessment as a non-invasive imaging test is quite widely used especially among RA patients, the clinical applications of using such knowledge is scarce, hence study was conducted to compare the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with healthy controls also to study the correlation between duration of rheumatoid arthritis, the activity of rheumatoid arthritis and other factors influencing (CIMT).Methods: In analytical cross-sectional study, of 80 participants of RA and 40 healthy controls, “DAS28” was used to assess disease activity.  Carotid intima-media thickness assessed using carotid ultrasonography.Results: Mean age of the cases and controls was 43.9 and 44.38 years. Subjects with duration of disease <2 years, to 5 years and >5 years were 35%, 45% and 20%. The mean carotid intima-media thickness was 5.61mm in controls, and CIMT was 6.11mm in people below 2 years and 7.08 mm in people between 2 to 5 years and 8.00mm in people above 5 years which was statistically significant. The mean carotid intima-media thickness was 5.61mm controls and 6.86mm in people with low, 7.00mm in people with moderate and 6.95mm in people with high disease activity, which was statistically significant.Conclusions: Study findings revealed risk of increase in carotid intima-media thickness higher among RA patients in the later stages and can increase the patients’ susceptibility to cardiovascular events. The factors showing strong association with intimal medial thickness were the age and symptoms duration.

scholarly journals AB0174 FATIGUE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1113.2-1113
Author(s):  
A. Fazaa ◽  
H. Boussaa ◽  
K. Ouenniche ◽  
S. Miladi ◽  
M. Sellami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Tender Joint Count ◽  
P Value ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Mean

Background:Fatigue is a common symptom in many chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is considered one of the most frustrating, uncontrollable, and overwhelming symptoms. However, most of rheumatologists do not assess fatigue despite its clinical significance and its impact on patients’ lives.Objectives:The aims of this study were to determine whether RA patients express more fatigue than healthy controls, and to analyze its correlation with disease activity.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study including patients with RA (ACR/EULAR 2010) and healthy controls matched for sex and age. Patients with other acute or chronic diseases that may induce fatigue (such as cancer, infection or depression) were excluded. Demographic data and the following clinical parameters were collected: pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Global Patient Assessment (GPA), tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C Protein Reactive (CRP), Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Fatigue was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT-F) which is a short 13-item questionnaire validated in RA. The score FACIT-F ranges between 0 and 52. Fatigue was considered mild if the FACIT-F score was ≥40, moderate if 20≤FACIT-F<40 and severe if 0≤FACIT-F<20. A p value inferior to 0.05 was considered significant.Results:We included 100 RA patients (84 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 49.5±10 years old [18-65]. The mean disease duration was 87.3 months [1-360]. The mean pain VAS was 49 cm [0-100] and the mean GPA was 47.8 cm [0-100]. The mean TJC and SJC were 5.3 [0-36] and 1 [0-9] respectively. The mean levels of ESR and CRP were 38.1 mm [10-120] and 10.8 mg/l [2-61] respectively. The mean DAS28 ESR was 3.68 [1.90-8.33] and the mean HAQ score was 0.90 [0-2.75].Thirty-nine healthy controls were enrolled including 35 women and 4 men with a mean age of 51.2 years old [30-64].The mean FACIT-F score was 27.1 [0-51] in RA patients versus 46.2 [0-52] in healthy controls (p<0.001). Among RA patients, 57% had moderate fatigue and 26% had severe fatigue.A significant negative correlation was noted between the FACIT-F score and the following parameters in RA patients: TJC (r=-0.568, p<0.001), SJC (r=-0.274, p<0.001), pain VAS (r=-0.605, p<0.001), GPA (r=-0.658, p<0.001), ESR (r=-0.405, p<0.001), CRP (r=-0.149, p<0.001), DAS28 (r=-0.837, p<0.001) and HAQ (r=-0.634, p<0.001).Conclusion:Fatigue was significantly more observed in RA patients. This symptom was correlated with disease activity and disability. It is important to recognize and manage fatigue in order to improve patients’ quality of life.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals AB0148 CHARACTERISTICS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS WITH HIP INVOLVEMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1101.2-1101
Author(s):  
H. Hajji ◽  
K. Maatallah ◽  
H. Ferjani ◽  
W. Triki ◽  
D. Ben Nessib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Sharp Score ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Standard Radiographs

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects both small and large joints. Hip involvement is an evolutionary turning point in RA and significantly alters the patient’s quality of life.Objectives:This study aimed to assess characteristics of RA patients with hip involvement.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study, including patients with RA (according to 2010 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria).We divided patients into two groups: G0 patients without hip involvement, G1 patients with hip involvement. Hip involvement was defined with a limited movement during examination with abnormalities on standard radiographs. We collected the following data: age, the disease activity score (DAS28), the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), and Anti Citrullinated Peptides Antibodies (ACPA), and SHARP score (A scoring system used to assess the radiological changes in patients with RA. It describes erosions and narrowing of the joint space of 27 small joints of the hands, including the carpal bones and feet).Results:Among the 224 patients included, 25had hip involvement (11%). The male / female sex-ratio was higher in G1 (0.66 vs 0.22, p=0.017).Patients in G1 were younger at disease onset (44,16±16,11 years vs 51.9±13.9 years, p= 0.022) and had a longer disease duration (12,28 ± 11,49 years vs 6,2010 ± 6,45 years, p=0.02). They had also higher HAQ(1,7692 vs 1,3054, p=0.05).SHARP score was higher in G1 (176.32 vs. 106.88, p=0.011). Atlantoaxial subluxation was more common in G1 (32% vs 14%,p=0.035).When comparing the groups we did not find any significant difference regarding age (56.12 ± 11.88 years vs 58,24±12,26 years, p=0.341), disease activity (DAS28-ESR:5.41 vs. 5.65, p=0.380; DAS28-CRP: 5.19 vs. 5.51, p=0.290), ESR (53.88 vs. 46.95, p=0.237), CRP:23,8894 vs 22,89, p=0.975), and in the serological profile (RF; G1:68% vs G0: 70.8%, p=0.817, ACPA; G1: 60% vs G0:69%, p=0.366).Conclusion:Patients with hip involvement were commonly male, were younger at disease onset and had more functional impairment based on the HAQ score. C1-C2 dislocation wasalso more common in this group.The SHARP score was also significantly higher in G1, which shows a severe and destructive disease.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Correlation Between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and the Activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A 1-Year Cross-Sectional Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Tender Joint Count ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Media Thickness ◽  
Das 28 ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Background and objectives: Among several noninvasive techniques available, a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography is the widely used technique to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with elevated cardiovascular risk. The present study was undertaken to explore the clinical relationship between CIMT and disease activity in patients with RA. Methods: This study involved 50 adult patients with RA. Demographic, physical, systemic, and clinical data and history of the patients were recorded. Investigations, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, renal and liver function tests, RA factor, and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody tests were performed. CIMT was assessed using highresolution B-mode ultrasonography and the disease severity was assessed based on disease activity score (DAS) 28. Results: The mean age of the RA patients was 49.88 ± 12.12 years with male predilection. The mean duration, mean European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria score, and mean DAS 28 score in RA patients were 3.62 ± 3.25 years, 8.10 ± 1.58, and 4.91 ± 1.11, respectively. The mean CIMT observed in RA patients was 0.94 ± 0.31 cm. Significant difference was observed in the mean CIMT values of different variables, including duration of joint pain (P = 0.007), tender joint count (P < 0.001), swollen joint count (P < 0.001), EULAR criteria score (P < 0.001), and DAS 28 score (P < 0.001). Also, CIMT correlated positively with tender joint count (r = 0.711; P < 0.001), swollen joint count (r = 0.673; P < 0.001), EULAR criteria score (r = 0.611; P < 0.001), and DAS 28 score (r = 0.729; P < 0.001). Conclusion: A strong correlation was observed between CIMT and disease activity in patients with RA. Hence, CIMT can be a useful surrogate marker for detecting atherosclerosis in patients with RA.

scholarly journals Handheld dermatoscopy as an easy-to-use capillaroscopic instrument in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1540-1545
Author(s):  
Ömer Faruk ELMAS ◽  
Mehmet OKÇU ◽  
Abdullah DEMİRBAŞ ◽  
Necmettin AKDENİZ
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rheumatologic Diseases ◽  
Significant Difference

Background/aim: Nailfold video capillaroscopy is considered as a reliable method for evaluating peripheral microangiopathy in rheumatologic diseases. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the utility of handheld dermatoscopy as an easy-to-use nailfold capillaroscopic instrument in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy subjects. A handheld dermatoscopic examination of proximal nail fold was performed in each subject. The possible correlation of capillaroscopic findings with disease activity was evaluated using the disease activity score 28 (DAS28).Results: A total of 59 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 60 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The presence of capillaryenlargement, avascular areas, capillary deformities, and capillary vascular anomalies in the group of patients showed a statistically significant difference when compared with the healthy subjects. No correlation was found between the nail fold capillaroscopic findings and DAS28 score.Conclusion: Hand-held dermatoscopy seems to be a useful technique in the evaluation of nail fold capillary changes. We suggest that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, when capillaroscopic examination is needed, it can be evaluated using handheld dermatoscopy. Selected patients who showed findings using this method can be further examined with classical capillaroscopy to obtain more quantitative data.

Thrombin-cleaved Osteopontin Is Increased in Urine of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
KIORI SHIO ◽  
HIROKO KOBAYASHI ◽  
TOMOYUKI ASANO ◽  
RIE SAITO ◽  
HARUYO IWADATE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Tender Joint Count ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Urine Levels

Objective.To measure concentrations of the thrombin-cleaved isoform of osteopontin (OPN) in urine and plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess whether levels of thrombin-cleaved OPN are associated with measures of RA.Methods.Subjects comprised 70 patients with RA, 20 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and 46 healthy controls. RA disease activity was evaluated by tender joint count, swollen joint count, patient’s global assessment of disease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and rheumatoid factor (RF), as well as 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28). OPN levels in plasma and urine were measured by ELISA.Results.Median levels of thrombin-cleaved OPN in urine (U-half) were significantly higher in RA patients (143.5 pmol/mmol Cr) than in healthy controls (67.9 pmol/mmol Cr) or OA patients (69.8 pmol/mmol Cr). Thrombin-cleaved OPN was not detected in plasma. U-half levels correlated significantly with levels of CRP (r = 0.26, p = 0.03), ESR (r = 0.26, p = 0.03), and RF (r = 0.28, p = 0.03). Median U-half levels were significantly higher in patients with stage III (249.9 pmol/mmol Cr) and IV (251.6 pmol/mmol Cr) disease than in patients with stage I (98.6 pmol/mmol Cr) disease.Conclusion.Our results suggest that urine levels of the thrombin-cleaved isoform of OPN may reflect the severity of active inflammatory arthritis in patients with RA.

scholarly journals FRI0603-HPR COMORBIDITIES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: UTILITY OF RACI SCORE (RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS COMORBIDITY INDEX)

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 907.3-908
Author(s):  
Y. Soria Curi ◽  
L. Gonzalez Lucero ◽  
F. J. Hüttmann ◽  
M. L. Leguizamón ◽  
S. M. Mazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Biologic Dmards ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Das 28 ◽  
Comorbidity Index ◽  
The Mean

Background:One third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have some comorbidity at the time of diagnosis and 80% during the evolution. The presence of each additional comorbidity reduces the chances of remission by 28%.Objectives:To determine the prevalence of comorbidities in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and to evaluate associated variables.Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. It were included patients over 18 years of age, who attended the Rheumatology office between May and August 2018 with a diagnosis of RA according to the ACR 1987 and ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria. Demographic variables were studied along with disease-related variables (time of evolution, disease activity by DAS-28 and CDAI, treatment and functional capacity (HAQ-A)). The presence of comorbidities was evaluated using two indexes: Rheumatoid Arthritis Comorbidity Index (RACI) and Disease Comorbidity Index (RDCI). RACI consists of 31 comorbidities grouped into 11 categories: DAS 28 >3.6, local inflammation, smoking, tumors, systemic involvement, infection, vascular disease, bone health, mood, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders (score range 0-36). RDCI consists of 11 comorbidities (categories according to ICD-10) and a formula to calculate it (range 0-9). For both indexes; higher score, greater comorbidity.Results:In this cross-sectional study, 345 patients were evaluated, of which 176 were included, 85.8% of the patients were female and the mean age was 52.7 ± 10.9 years; 31.2% of the cases finished primary school, the median of disease duration was 9 years (1-40), the mean DAS28 3.8 ± 1.4, and the mean CDAI 12.4 ± 11.3. 52.3% of the patients received treatment with glucocorticoids, 60.8% with NSAID, 60.2% with methotrexate, 39.2% with leflunomide, 17.6% with biologic DMARds and 5.6% with tofacitinib. 90.3% of the patients (95% CI 84.8, 94.3) presented some comorbidity measured by RACI. The average score was 4.7 ± 3.4 and the most frequent comorbidity were: elevated DAS28 (40.9%), dyslipidemia (38.1%), AHT (36.4%), prednisone >5 mg/d in 31.8%, endocrinopathies 19.3%. 73.3% of the patients had more than one comorbidity. Regarding RDCI, 47.2% of the cases presented some comorbidity with an average score of 0.95 ± 1.3; the most frequent were: AHT 36.4%, lung disease 12.5% and diabetes 8%. The oldest patients had more than one comorbidity (RACI), and also presented a higher HAQ score than those with only one (p<0.0001). Higher RACI score was associated with higher CDAI (p<0.001) and the use of glucocorticoids (p=0.008).Conclusion:The prevalence of comorbidities in RA by RACI was elevated (90.3%) and 73.3% of the patients presented more than one comorbidity. The patients with the highest RACI score had higher disease activity and used glucocorticoids more frequently.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Study of serum traditional and nontraditional biomarkers in Rheumatoid arthritis patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7585-7592
Author(s):  
Vinod A N ◽  
Leena Chand ◽  
Preeti R Y ◽  
Harshitha S ◽  
Prahaladh R
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

The study of biomarkers in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is highly indispensable to understand mechanisms of pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of disease. The role of traditional biomarkers like Anti-CCP, RF, and inflammatory markers like ESR and CRP is well established. In this study, we aimed to measure nontraditional biomarkers like Hyaluronic acid (HA), Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and Osteocalcin in the serum of RA patients and also to establish an association with traditional markers. It was a cross-sectional study involving 152 RA patients based on the 1987 ACR criteria for the diagnosis of RA and 68 age‑ and sex-matched healthy controls. After the clinical examination, traditional markers were assessed to measure the disease activity along with non traditional markers in RA patients. All the values were expressed as median (25th–75th percentile). In our study, there was a significant increase in serum HA levels in RA patients compared to healthy controls (p  < 0.03), whereas no significant difference in serum COMP and osteocalcin levels. The traditional inflammatory markers were significantly increased in RA patients than controls with (p  < 0.001). The serum HA levels were significantly correlated with traditional markers in RA patients. Conclusion: Significant increase in serum HA level in RA patients indicating synovial inflammation, but there were no notable changes in COMP and osteocalcin level in serum presuming the combination of these markers may be useful along with traditional markers in the different stages of RA.

scholarly journals Tooth Loss Is Associated with Disease-Related Parameters in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis—A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3052
Author(s):  
Gerhard Schmalz ◽  
Markus Bartl ◽  
Jan Schmickler ◽  
Susann Patschan ◽  
Daniel Patschan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Tooth Loss ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reactive Protein

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate potential associations between periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and tooth loss with disease-related parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Patients who attended the Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Germany, were included. The oral examination comprised the detection of the number of remaining teeth and periodontal condition based on staging and grading matrix. Based on periodontal pockets with positive bleeding on probing, the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was determined. Disease related parameters were extracted from the patients’ records. Results: In total, 101 (RA) and 32 participants (AS) were included. Patients with RA had 22.85 ± 4.26 and AS patients 24.34 ± 5.47 remaining teeth (p < 0.01). Periodontitis stage III and IV was present in 91% (RA) and 81.2% (AS) of patients (p = 0.04). Associations between PISA and disease-related parameters were not found in both groups (p > 0.05). In RA, a higher age (p < 0.01), C-reactive protein (p = 0.02), disease activity (p < 0.01) and prednisolone intake (p < 0.01) were associated with fewer remaining teeth. In AS, a higher age (p = 0.02) and increased Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (p = 0.02) were associated with a lower number of remaining teeth. Conclusions: Tooth loss is associated with disease activity, especially in RA individuals. Dental care to prevent tooth loss might be recommendable to positively influence oral health condition and disease activity in RA and SA patients.

A Cross-Sectional Hospital Based Study on Correlation between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Disease Activity in Recently Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis in Chennai, Tamilnadu

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (38) ◽  
pp. 3372-3377
Author(s):  
Karthiga Murugan ◽  
Velmurugan Anbu Ananthan ◽  
Ananthan Veeranan
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Uric Acid ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Rheumatoid Factor ◽  
Serum Uric Acid ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Activity Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder. Uric acid is a by-product of purine metabolism, associated with diseases such as gouty arthritis, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The association between serum uric acid concentrations and inflammation in patients with RA has been controversial. Some case reports suggest coexistence of gout and RA. Uric acid crystals can induce robust inflammation causing joint destruction and fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the serum uric acid levels in subjects with recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis and to correlate with disease activity. METHODS This cross-sectional study was done on 55 recently diagnosed RA subjects [American college of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria 2010] attending the rheumatology out-patient department (OPD) of a tertiary care institute in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. After clinical examination, evaluation of disease activity score (DAS), serum uric acid and rheumatoid factor (RF) were done. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS trial version 28). Descriptive and inferential analysis was done. Correlation between serum uric acid levels and DAS was the main outcome. RESULTS The mean age was 41.51 ± 11.7 years. 87.3 % were females. Majority (58.2 %) were aged between 31 to 50 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.78 months. The mean serum uric acid level was 4.99 ± 1.2 mg/dl with 95 % C.I. of 4.66 to 5.31. The mean DAS was 5.34 ± 0.96. 56 % had high disease activity while only 44 % had moderate disease activity. 44 % were RF positive. There was no significant difference in serum uric acid levels across groups based on RF positivity and DAS severity respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation serum uric acid levels and DAS (-0.024, P value = 0.861). CONCLUSIONS Mean serum uric acid levels were elevated in recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis. Serum uric acid levels have no association with DAS and RF positivity in rheumatoid arthritis. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of specific treatment of elevated uric acid levels in rheumatoid arthritis independent of rheumatoid arthritis treatment. KEYWORDS Rheumatoid Arthritis, Uric Acid, Rheumatoid Factor, Disease Activity Score (DAS), Correlation, Recently Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis

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