title: Serum adenosine deaminase in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, adenosine deaminase (ADA) is introduced as helpful marker in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the serum ADA in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment with methotrexate (MTX) in RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a self-controlled clinical trial conducted in university hospitals of Isfahan, Iran. The serum level of ADA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor (RF) were measured for 70 patients with active RA (Disease Activity Score-28 [DAS28] > 3/2). After three months of MTX treatment and disease remission (DAS28 < 2.6) these markers were measured again. ANCOVA multiregression and paired t-test were used to compare and evaluate the mean level and correlation of ADA, ESR, IgM-RF, and DAS before and after RA remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value for ADA activity was significantly higher than the normal one compared with other studies. Significant decreases were seen in values of ADA, ESR, RF, visual analogue scale (VAS), and DAS after remission. Also, the correlation coefficient between the values of ADA with ESR and DAS were statistically significant in baseline. Moreover, the statistically significant correlation between ADA and ESR, VAS, and DAS were seen after remission. No correlation was found in the case of the dosage of MTX with the value of ADA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that ADA may be considered useful as a marker in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment with Methotrexate in RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rozita Aghaye
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ghazvini
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ziba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Farajzadegan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimifar
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karimzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masoumi
authors.affiliation: Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Medical Students Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
keywords: Adenosine deaminase; disease activity score; methotrexate; rheumatoid arthritis