Evaluation of the Profile of Some Biochemical Parameters in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Before and After Treatment
Israa Ghassan Zainal, Zainab Essmat IsmailAbstract
Background:
The concept of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as a systemic condition emphasizes that the impact of RA on body damage extends beyond the confines of joints.
Objective:
The study aims to evaluate the concentrations of some biochemical parameters in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis both before and after treatment compared to the control.
Materials and Methods:
This study includes 100 persons divided into three groups: group 1 (G1) consists of 21 patients with untreated RA, group 2 (G2) consists of 39 persons with RA after treatment, and the control group consists of 40 apparently healthy persons.
Results:
The results showed that serum concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin, albumin/globulin ratio (AGR), thiol, and thiol/TP were significantly decreased in both groups of patients when compared to the control. Globulin levels were significantly increased in G1 patients and non-significantly decreased in G2 when compared to the control. A significant increase was noticed in concentrations of free amino, free amino/TP, carbonyl, carbonyl/TP, and ischemia-modified albumin in both groups of patients when compared to the control. The correlation analysis study revealed significant negative correlations between TP:carbonyl, globulin:AGR, globulin:carbonyl/TP, and TP:carbonyl/TP). Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between carbonyl:carbonyl/TP, free amino:free amino/TP, and thiol:thiol/TP in G1. In G2, significant negative correlations were observed between TP:globulin, globulin:AGR, and AGR:free amino/TP. Conversely, significant positive correlations were found between TP:AGR, globulin:free amino, globulin:free amino/TP, carbonyl:carbonyl/TP, free amino:free amino/TP, and thiol:thiol/TP in G2.
Conclusions:
The estimated levels of biochemical parameters in patients with RA, encompassing both G1 and G2, suggest that G1 exhibits relatively better levels compared to G2. Consequently, testing these biochemical markers in drug-free patients may aid in diagnosing the condition. Correlation studies between specific biochemical parameters in patients with RA can help in both diagnosing the disease and predicting its progression.