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Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system which are defined by articular cartilage degradation and impairment of joint. When criteria and radiography are insufficient to diagnose early-stages of RA and OA to control disease course, biomarkers become necessary to early diagnosis these diseases.Objective: We searched the levels of (MMP3) and (HP) in the blood of early RA and OA patients in order to see if they can be utilized to distinguish the two diseases at an early stage.Patients and Methods: We recruited 1) forty patients who were diagnosed with early knee osteoarthritis using EULAR and Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic grading criteria, 2) forty patients with early RA (disease duration less than three years), and 3) forty control group consisted of normal volunteers who were age and sex matched. All subjects underwent a thorough medical history, clinical musculoskeletal examination, and laboratory tests, including the determination of blood MMP3 and HP. We did also a simple x-ray of their hands and knee joints.Results: Comparing groups, we found a highly significant increase in serum MMP3 in OA patients than RA patients and control groups. MMP3 was also significantly higher in RA patients than in the control group. While, OA patients had significantly higher HP than RA patients and control groups, whereas RA patients and control groups had no significant difference in HP.Conclusion: Hydroxyproline rather than MMP3 may be employed as a potential biomarker for early differentiation between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system which are defined by articular cartilage degradation and impairment of joints. When criteria and radiography are insufficient to diagnose the early stages of RA and OA to control disease course, biomarkers become necessary to early diagnose these diseases. Objective: We searched the levels of (MMP3) and (HP) in the blood of early RA and OA patients in order to see if they can be utilized to distinguish the two diseases at an early stage. Patients and Methods: We recruited 1) forty patients who were diagnosed with early knee osteoarthritis using EULAR and Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic grading criteria, 2) forty patients with early RA (disease duration less than three years), and 3) forty control groups consisted of normal volunteers who were age and sex-matched. All subjects underwent a thorough medical history, clinical musculoskeletal examination, and laboratory tests, including the determination of blood MMP3 and HP. We did also a simple x-ray of their hands and knee joints. Results: Comparing groups, we found a highly significant increase in serum MMP3 in OA patients than RA patients and control groups. MMP3 was also significantly higher in RA patients than in the control group. While, OA patients had significantly higher HP than RA patients and control groups, whereas RA patients and control groups had no significant difference in HP. Conclusion: Hydroxyproline rather than MMP3 may be employed as a potential biomarker for early differentiation between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background and Aim Behçet disease (BD) is a rare chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory systemic vasculitis. BD patients were reported to have marked acceleration of subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA). Endocan is a soluble proteoglycan mainly secreted by the activated endothelium. The present study aimed to assess the relation between serum endocan levels and SCA in BD patients. Subjects and Methods The study included 40 adult BD patients in addition to twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. BD was diagnosed according to International Study Group criteria. Upon recruitment, all participants were subjected to careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. BD activity was assessed using Behçet Syndrome Activity Score. Measurement of serum endocan was performed using quantitative double-antibody sandwich ELISA kit. CIMT measurement was done using B-mode ultrasound. Results Comparison between patients and controls regarding serum endocan levels revealed significantly higher endocan levels in BD patients [median (IQR): 155.0 (69.3–610.0) versus 73.8 (51.9–94.6)]. Using ultrasound assessment, SCA was found in 14 BD patients (35.0%). Comparison between patients with SCA and patients without regarding the clinical and laboratory data revealed that the former group had significantly higher CRP [median (IQR): 36.5 (26.8–43.5) versus 21.0 (11.8–26.8) mg/dL, p < 0.001] and endocan [median (IQR): 622.0 (107.4–974.8) versus 104.5 (64.0–342.0) mg/dL, p = 0.004] levels. Logistic regression analysis recognized endocan [OR (95% CI): 1.0 (1.0–1.012), p0.035] levels as significant predictor of SCA in multivariate analysis. Conclusion The present study identified the clinical value of serum endocan levels as a possible early marker of vascular involvement in BD patients.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Nailfold Capillaroscopy (NFC) is a rapid, low-cost, non-invasive diagnostic procedure for assessing peripheral microangiopathy in the early stages of RA.Objective: to identify nailfold capillaroscopic patterns in rheumatoid arthritis patients and connect such results with different clinical and laboratory parameters .Methodology: This case control study included 40 RA patients as well as 40 healthy volunteers who were age and gender matched as the control group. Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis recruited from Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department outpatient clinic at Al-Zahraa university Hospital. Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis was according to ACR and EULAR 2010 classification criteria. An informed consent was obtained from all patients for inclusion in the study. The study subjected to be approved by the medical ethics and committee of faculty of Medicine for Girls Al-Azhar University. All patients were subjected to full clinical, Laboratory assessment, the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28-ESR) and nailfold capillaroscopy. Results:As regards to nailfold capillaroscopic findings, 11(27.5%) had avascular area, 8(20%) had micro Hemorrhage, 8(20%) had sub papillary venous plexus SPVP, 12(30%) had angiogenesis, 26(65%) had Normal U shape (hairpin) architecture, 12(30%) had tortuous architecture and 5(12.5%) had disorganized bizarre architecture, and we documented statistically significant differences between groups according to avascular area and angiogenesis. Conclusion:Patients with RA had more non-specific capillaryscopic findings than controls. Our results didn't support the usefulness of nailfold capillaroscopy in evaluating the disease activity in RA patients. We did not find a statistically significant relationship between capillary microscopic results and the DAS28 score. The NFC changes may occur concurrently with the joint inflammatory process.

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic inflammatory disease. Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) is a unique gene product able to reduce collagen deposition. The present study aimed to assess CTHRC1 level in RA patients and to uncover its relation to clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. Methods The study included 60 adult RA patients. In addition, there were 60 control subjects who included patients with osteoarthritis (n = 20) and reactive arthritis (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20). Serum CTHRC1 levels were assessed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Disease activity was calculated using the Disease Activity Score (DAS28-CRP). Radiological damage was evaluated using the Simple Erosion Narrowing Score (SENS). Results There was significantly higher serum CTHRC1 levels in RA patients when compared to OA, ReA and control groups [median (IQR): 4.66 (1.68–11.7) versus 1.88 (1.14–2.94), 1.55 (0.98–3.15) and 1.14 (0.85–1.3) mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.001]. There was significantly higher CTHRC1 levels in patients with higher disease activity [median (IQR): 2.23 (1.4–4.73) versus 6.55 (4.66–12.0) mg/dL, p = 0.004]. Patients with higher SENS had significantly higher CTHRC1 [median (IQR): 1.99 (1.4–4.66) versus 9.75 (4.39–12.63) mg/dL, p < 0.001] and DAS28 [median (IQR): 4.25 (2.9–5.2) versus 5.4 (4.65–5.8), p = 0.01]. Conclusion Serum CTHRC1 levels are related to disease severity and radiological affection in RA patients.