Abstract:
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by proliferation of immunocompetent cells within synovial membranes. Type II collagen is the main protein component and specific for hyaline cartilage.
Aim: This work aimed to measure serum level of Coll2-1, in RA patients ,study its association with disease activity and/or severity, and to determine its ability as a biomarker of the disease status.
Patients and methods: This study was conducted on: Forty rheumatoid arthritis patients together with twenty primary knee OA patients and twenty volunteers as control groups. For RA patients; full history was obtained then clinical examination was performed. Disease activity. was assessed by DAS-28 and disease severity by Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity Scale (RASS). X- rays of both hands and feet graded by the Larsen score. Routine laboratory tests and serum Coll2-1 level was measured by ELISA.
Results: Statistically significant increase in the mean serum Coll2-1 levels among RA and OA patients compared to the healthy controls (p= 0.001 each). No difference was found between RA and OA (p=0.14). Significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) between serum level of Coll2-1 in RA patients with patients' ages, morning stiffness duration, tender and swollen joints number , ESR, CRP, DAS-28, radiological grading and RASS. Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of Coll 2-1 biomarker reflecting disease activity and the destructive processes emerging in the joints of RA patients. It could be a promising tool in the pathogenesis of significant joint activity signaling cartilage and joint destruction.
Key words: Coll2-1, Rheumatoid arthritis, Biomarkers.