title: [Clinical value of serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 in evaluating joint destruction and therapeutic effect in rheumatoid arthritis patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical value of serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in evaluating joint destruction and therapeutic effect in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 109 RA patients and 23 healthy volunteers. Serum MMP3, C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody levels were detected. All relevant clinical information of RA patients were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum RF, anti-CCP antibodies and MMP3 concentrations in RA patients were markedly higher than those in healthy controls, and serum anti-CCP antibodies and MMP3 levels significantly increased in active RA as compared with those in stable RA (P<0.05). Serum CRP, anti-CCP antibodies and MMP3 levels gradually rose with the progress of joint destruction, but only the increase of serum MMP3 was significant statistically (P<0.05). Serum MMP3 level was found positively correlated with serum CRP or RF levels or joint injury. After the combination treatment of TNF antagonist and methotrexate, DAS28 score, serum CRP, anti-CCP antibodies and MMP3 levels were markedly reduced (P<0.05), and the decrease of MMP3 level was the most obvious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum MMP3 was a good laboratory index to evaluate the joint injury status and therapeutic effect, which is superior to other traditional and routine laboratory indexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhuochun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lanlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; C511768:MMP3 protein, human; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3