title: Inflammatory markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the consequence of a persistent imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune mechanisms, leading to chronic inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine whether the high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cytokines are elevated in RA patients and to investigate the relationship between these markers and disease activity in RA, measured by disease activity score 28 (DAS28).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 110 RA patients according to American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for RA, and 55 controls matched by age and sex. Serum levels of hs-CRP and cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were estimated and correlated with the DAS28. Serum hs-CRP was assayed immunoturbidimetrically and cytokines were analysed by commercially available ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that RA patients had significantly higher levels of serum hs-CRP (p<0.001), IL-6 (p<0.001), TNF-α (p<0.001), and IL-10 (p<0.01) as compared to healthy controls. hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α correlated positively (p<0.001) and IL-10 correlated negatively (p<0.01) with DAS28.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that RA patients have high levels of inflammatory markers, and these levels are correlated with the DAS28. These findings suggest a possible role of these markers in the pathogenesis of RA. Moreover, these biomarkers can be used as markers of disease activity in the diagnosis and treatment of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences & Research, Faridabad 121001, India. Electronic address: amitbc83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.affiliation: Biochemist, Department of Pathology, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi 110007, India.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon 122001, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raizada
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, G. R. Medical College, Gwalior 474009, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College and Hospital, Visnagar 384315, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, G. R. Medical College, Gwalior 474009, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon 122001, India.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi 110007, India.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Inflammation; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-6; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tumour necrosis factor-α; hs-CRP