title: Baseline serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 as a biomarker of progressive joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) plays a pivotal role in the destruction of bone and degradation of cartilage components in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed in this study to analyze the relation between baseline levels of MMP-3 and the progression of joint damage in RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one untreated RA patients with joint symptoms for <1 year were evaluated at baseline and after 12 months as regards erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) and plain X-ray of both hands and wrists. Baseline levels of MMP-3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hands/wrists was performed. Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were performed at baseline evaluation and after 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline MMP-3 levels were significantly higher in the high-progression group compared with the low-progression one (95.75 ± 42.84 vs. 50.45 ± 12.83, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between baseline levels of MMP-3 and MRI erosion score and other baseline clinical parameters, except for HAQ and the van der Heijde modification of the Sharp scoring system (SvdH) scores, while after 12 months, there were high positive correlations between MMP-3 and SvdH score, as well as all parameters except for ESR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum baseline levels of MMP-3 are strong prognostic markers of disease activity, and act well as an early predictor of progressive joint damage in recent-onset RA disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.|Department of Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Holly Markkah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sahar Mahfouz Abdel
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Galil
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abeer Mohamed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Shafey
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hoda A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hagrass
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fawzy
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed El
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sammak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007596:Joints / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C511768:MMP3 protein, human; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
keywords: matrix metalloproteinase-3; prognostic marker; rheumatoid arthritis