[Laminin P1 and procollagen III peptide in serum: activity parameters in chronic inflammatory joint diseases]

Chronic inflammatory arthritis causes progressive destruction of the joints. Non-specific parameters of inflammation are used in controls, because specific tests are not yet available. In this study, we determined parameters of connective tissue metabolism in 215 sera of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, since morphological changes in synovial tissue in these diseases are characterized by proliferation of mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix. Serum concentration of procollagen-III-peptide (P-III-P) was increased in patients with a markedly progressive disease. Fragment P1 of the basement membrane component laminin was found to be enhanced in the serum of all groups of patients - even in the early stages of diseases. In addition, follow-up over 2 years showed a good correlation between the progression of the diseases and the serum concentration of the two parameters. Our results indicate that P-III-P and laminin P1 serum content specifically reflect the proliferation of mesenchymal tissue in rheumatic diseases of the joints. Determination of both parameters may therefore be useful in estimating the progression of the disease and the benefit of treatment.