Abstract:Background: Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and timely detection of progression are global challenges.However, lack of sensitivity and imprecision of the currently available biomarkers have impaired the ability to implement potentially effective therapies in a timely manner. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of serum calprotectin in diagnosis as well as assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Methods: serum calprotectin levels were measured in 60 Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (35 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis vs. 25 patients with quiescent disease) and 20 healthy subjects who served as a control group. Results: Serum calprotectin showed a highly significant elevation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, its level showed a highly significant increase during disease activity. Significant positive correlations were found between serum calprotectin and other markers of disease activity (ESR, CRP, WBCs, and platelets). Serum calprotectin at a cut-off level of 450 ng /mL, had 75% sensitivity &90% specificity for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Optimum cut-off level of calprotectin for prediction of disease activity was 950 ng /mL with 80% sensitivity, 76% specificity. Conclusion: serum calprotectin is a promising marker for diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), which include Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are a group of idiopathic, chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, whose incidence and prevalence has been increasing in the last decade. This study correlated the circulating cathelicidin levels with mucosal disease activity in patients with IBD.This case control cross sectional study was conducted on 80 adults referred to Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Liver Unit, El-Haram Hospital. Forty patients had IBD; the others were non IBD patients served as case control. All were submitted to complete medical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations, colonoscopic examination and cathelicidin serum level.The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between both studied groups regarding both age and sex distribution. In this study we found highly significant decrease in Hemoglobin level in cases group compared to control group (P < 0.001). Also, there was significant increase in platelets level among cases group compared to control (P < 0.05). Also, the serum albumin was decreased among IBD patients compared to control.

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