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Circulating human leucocyte elastase in rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatology International
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Elastase-inhibitor complex (EIC) levels are elevated in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). EIC measurement shows potential for objectively assessing RA disease activity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) encompass autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- Assessing disease activity in CTDs often relies on clinical markers, necessitating objective biomarkers.
- Elastase-inhibitor complexes (EICs) are implicated in inflammatory processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of elastase-inhibitor complex (EIC) levels as a biomarker for disease activity in patients with connective tissue diseases.
- To compare EIC levels in active and inactive disease states of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Main Methods:
- Quantification of EIC levels in EDTA-plasma samples from 40 patients with CTDs using a double antibody immunoassay.
- Comparison of EIC levels between patient groups (active RA, inactive RA, active SLE, inactive SLE) and normal controls.
- Correlation analysis of EIC levels with clinical parameters such as white blood cell count (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Main Results:
- Significantly higher EIC levels were observed in active RA and SLE compared to normal controls (P < 10^-8).
- EIC levels decreased upon remission in both RA and SLE.
- Active RA showed significantly higher mean EIC levels than inactive RA (P = 0.0001).
- No significant difference in EIC levels was found between acute and inactive SLE (P = 0.49).
- A positive correlation between EIC levels and WBC was noted in active RA, but not with ESR.
- No significant correlation between EIC levels and ESR or WBC was found in SLE.
Conclusions:
- EIC levels are significantly elevated in active RA and SLE, decreasing with remission.
- EIC measurement demonstrates potential as an objective biomarker for assessing disease activity, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Further research may elucidate the role of EICs in the pathogenesis and monitoring of connective tissue diseases.