Polymorphonuclear elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (elastase-alpha1 antitrypsin) in patients with rheumatic diseases: influence of disease activity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (E-alpha1PI) complex behaves as an acute phase reactant in inflammatory arthritis.


METHODS
E-alpha1PI complex was measured in the plasma of 89 patients with different rheumatic diseases and 28 healthy controls. Correlations were sought between standard indices of disease activity as patients went into remission with the use of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD).


RESULTS
Compared with levels in 28 healthy controls, E-alpha1PI was significantly higher in 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 14 with ankylosing spondylitis, and 17 with noninflammatory rheumatoid disease. No significant correlations were found between E-alpha1PI and various laboratory and clinical variables of disease activity in RA before introduction of a DMARD. There was a slight decrease in E-alpha1PI over 24 weeks of treatment as other acute phase reactants fell significantly, although this did not reach significant levels. No correlations were found between intra-individual change of E-alpha1PI and different indices of disease activity from Week 0 to Week 24.


CONCLUSIONS
E-alpha1PI complex levels, measured as an index of neutrophil activation, did not correlate with improvement in disease activity in inflammatory arthritis afforded by DMARD.
Beyeler
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C
Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, Switzerland.
Banks
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Bird
H A
HA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C037741:alpha 1-antitrypsin-leukocyte elastase complex; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase