Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease of unknown etiology. Various cellular and molecular immunological factors are involved in the pathophysiology of RA. Recent studies suggest that neutrophils and alpha-defensins released from the neutrophils assume significant roles in the pathogenesis of RA. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between serum alpha-defensin levels and disease activity, functional status, radiological damage and several laboratory parameters in patients with RA.
Materials and methods: A total of 42 patients with established RA who presented to the outpatient clinics of rheumatology of Dicle University Hospital and 38 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Disease activity was assessed by using the Disease Activity Scale 28 (DAS28). Quality of life was assessed by using the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) Questionnaire and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Functional status was assessed by using the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Laboratory examinations included the following tests: CBC, ESH, CRP, and HNP 1-3.
Results: Patients with an active disease exhibited higher HNP 1-3 levels compared to patients in remission. At a cut off value of 708 pg/ml, sensitivity and specificity of the tests for HNP 1-3 were 72% and 70.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: In the present study, patients with an active disease had significantly higher serum HNP 1-3 levels compared to patients in remission. In this respect, serum HNP 1-3 can be a useful marker in the assessment of disease activity and remission in patients with RA.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; disease activity; human neutrophil peptides.