Objective: This study was done to detect the serum level of soluble
L-selectin (sL-selectin) and plasma level of fibronectin (pFN) in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare these levels to normal
healthy controls. The aim extends to determine the relation of these levels
to clinical parameters of disease activity.
Methodology: Fifty patients with RA as well as twenty healthy
persons- as a control group- were included into this study. All patients
were subjected to full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations.
sL-selectin and pFN were measured in patients and controls using the
enzyme-linked immunosorlpent assay technique, and their correlations
with disease activity parameters were studied.
Results: Serum levels of sL-selectin and pFN were highly
significantly increased in RA patients as compared to healthy controls
(PO.001). These levels also showed a highly statistically significant
correlation with some parameters of RA disease activity (P<0.001). This
rise was more evident in patients with severe disease activity. |
