title: Interleukin-23 and its correlation with disease activity, joint damage, and functional disability in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the serum interleukin (IL)-23 levels between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls and to determine the correlation of IL-23 levels with disease activity, joint damage and functional disability in RA. Serum samples were obtained from 45 patients with RA and 45 healthy controls. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used for quantitative analysis of IL-23. All the RA patients were assessed for disease activity based on the 28-joint disease activity score, joint damage based on modified Sharp score, and functional ability using the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index. The mean serum IL-23 level was much higher among the RA patients (24.50 ± 13.98 pg/mL) compared to the controls (5.98 ± 3.40 pg/mL; p < 0.01). There was a significant positive relationship between IL-23 levels and disease activity and questionnaire scores (p = 0.003 and 0.020, respectively). On logistic regression analysis, IL-23 levels were significantly higher in patients with moderate to high disease activity (p = 0.008, odds ratio = 1.073, 95% confidence interval = 1.019-1.130) and patients with significant functional disability (p = 0.008, odds ratio = 1.085, 95% confidence interval = 1.021-1.153). RA patients have significantly higher levels of serum IL-23. The IL-23 levels correlate well with disease activity and functional disability but not with radiographic joint damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Adnan Siti
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dalila
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Shahrir
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mohd Said
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syahrul Sazliyana
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shaharir
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Wahab
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Asrul
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Soo Fin
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azhar Shah
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Shamsul
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: sakthis5@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rajalingham
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakthiswary
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D053759:Interleukin-23
keywords: Disease activity; Interleukin 23; Joint damage; Rheumatoid arthritis