title: [Observations on the increased serum levels of YKL-40 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the function of glycoprotein YKL-40 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, erosive osteoarthrosis or coxitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of glycoprotein YKL-40 were assayed using an ELISA method in 40 patients with active-phase rheumatoid arthritis and 20 patients suffering from erosive osteoarthrosis or coxitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values of YKL-40 were enhanced in all patients with rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis with higher mean values in erosive osteoarthritis and coxitis (440 ng/ml) compared to rheumatoid arthritis (190 ng/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YKL 40 is a local prognostic marker of joint destruction.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Interna, Sezione Reumatologia, Università degli Studi, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgante
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Metelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morgante
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood*; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D001324:Autoantigens; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins