Abstract
Background: Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) are products of a non-enzymatic reaction between sugars and free amino groups of protein. They are one of several molecules that play a role in the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). A soluble subtype of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) which can be measured in serum has been gaining interest for its contribution in RA.
Aim of Study: The aim of this work is to assess the role of sRAGE in monitoring disease activity, disease treatment and follow-up.
Subjects and Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted on (50) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (group 1) and their age and sex matching (30) healthy controls (group 2). All subjects recruited in our study were subjected to measurement of serum soluble subtype of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) by ELISA tech-nique.
Results: Results of our study shows significant statistical decrease in serum sRAGE levels among different studied disease activity score 28 (DAS28) 28 grades (H:6.02, p<0.05). The inverse association between serum sRAGE and DAS28 is confirmed by the highly significant negative correlation between them (r:–0.397, p<0.01). No significant statistical difference is seen in serum sRAGE between patients on treatment with methotrexate and those not treated with it (Z: 0.39, p>0.05).
Conclusion: Serum sRAGE level is strongly related to the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis with its serum levels being lower in active disease. Our study could not prove its role in disease treatment follow-up.