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Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
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Serum and synovial matrix metalloproteinase-3 as markers of disease activity in early rheumatoid arthritis

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 43, pages 178–183 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Matrix metalloprotein ase-3 (MMP-3) is one of the MMPs produced in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate serum and synovial fluid (SF) MMP-3 as markers of disease activity in early RA.

Patients and methods

Thirty early RA patients together with age-matched and sex-matched 12 primary knee osteoarthritis patients and 12 apparently healthy individuals as control groups were enrolled in this study. MMP-3 was measured in serum and SF samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Assessment of disease activity in RA patients was carried out using disease activity score-28 (DAS-28), and radiographs of the hands, wrists, and forefeet were obtained and evaluated according to Larsen score.

Results

As regards mean serum levels of MMP-3, there was a statistically significant elevation in RA patients compared with the control groups (P<0.001). Moreover, the mean SF levels of MMP-3 in RA patients were statistically significantly higher than that in osteoarthritis patients (P<0.001). In RA patients, there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.001) between mean serum and SF levels, being higher in the SF. There was a statistically significant positive correlation (P<0.05) between serum MMP-3 with disease duration, DAS-28, and Larsen score. As regards mean SF MMP-3 levels, there was a high statistically significant positive correlation (P<0.001) with DAS-28 and a statistically significant positive correlation (P<0.05) with Larsen score.

Conclusion

Elevated serum and synovial MMP-3 levels reflect disease activity in RA patients; thus, it could be used as a useful marker for disease activity. The cross-sectional design of our study did not allow us to produce conclusions with respect to disease course and prognosis. Thus, we recommend further studies on large numbers of patients and serial measurements of MMP-3 to determine the rate of disease progression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology and Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Kayiobia, Egypt

    Rasha Mohamed Fawzy (Lecturer)

  2. Rheumatology and Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Kayiobia, Egypt

    Yasser A. Abdel Hamid (Professor)

  3. Chemical & Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Banha University, Kayiobia, Egypt

    Mona M. Albehesy (Lecturer)

  4. Rheumatology and Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine Department, Banha Teaching Hosptial, Benha, Egypt

    Rasha F. Aboelmaged (President)

Authors
  1. Rasha Mohamed Fawzy
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  2. Yasser A. Abdel Hamid
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  3. Mona M. Albehesy
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  4. Rasha F. Aboelmaged
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Correspondence to Rasha Mohamed Fawzy.

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Fawzy, R.M., Abdel Hamid, Y.A., Albehesy, M.M. et al. Serum and synovial matrix metalloproteinase-3 as markers of disease activity in early rheumatoid arthritis. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 43, 178–183 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.192257

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.192257

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