Background: Cytotoxic cells possess specialized granules which contain
perform and a group of serine proteinases termed granzymes. Granzyme B is a
serine protease that have been identified in synovial fluid and tissue of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) patients, where they may play an important role as mediators of
granule-mediated apoptosis, extracellular proteolysis, andcytokine induction.
Objective: To assess plasma and synovial fluid soluble granzyme B
concentrations in early RA patients and its association to seropositivity, ESR, Creactive
protein (CRP), disease activity and the rate of radiological progression.
This was in an attempt to throw light on its possible role as predictive factor for
disease severity and joint outcome.
Methods: This study included 80 early RA patients presenting with knee
effusion and 30 matched osteoarthritis (OA) patients presenting with traumatic nonhemorrhagic
knee synovial effusion as a control group. Serum and synovial fluid
granzyme B concentrations were determined with ELISA. Assessment of disease
activity. Rheumatoid factor (RF), CRP and ESR were measured Radiographs of the
hands, wrists and forefeet were taken for all RA patients at baseline and after one
year. Radiographical damage and scoring were evaluated. |
