title: Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: To determine the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and investigate their clinical significance in this disease, serum samples from 83 patients with SSc and 30 healthy volunteers were examined by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was no significant difference in serum levels of MMP-3 between SSc patients and healthy controls. However, in female patients, there was a significant difference in serum MMP-3 levels between patients subsequently developing accompanying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those not developing RA, and patients with increased levels of MMP-3 were more likely to develop RA than those with normal MMP-3 levels. Additionally, arthralgia, elevated CRP, and elevated rheumatoid factor were seen significantly more frequently in patients with increased MMP-3 levels than in those with normal MMP-3 levels. These results suggest that increased serum MMP-3 is a marker for developing RA in SSc patients. SSc patients with increased serum MMP-3 levels need to be followed up carefully because of the risk of developing overlapping RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, 113-8655 Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jinnin
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ihn
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Norihito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3