Glycated Albumin, a Marker for RA associated Coronary Artery Athelosclerosis

Abstract

Objectives to detect the value of serum Glycated Albumin measurement as a marker for RA associated coronary artery atherosclerosis and also a marker for RA disease activity. Patients and Methods serum GA using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chemical and immunological markers of RA were measured in 30 RA patients and 15 age and sex matched controls known to have established coronary artery disease. Disease activity was assessed using the DAS-28 score. Carotid ultrasound was done to both groups to measure the carotid IMT. Results A significantly higher serum GA level on comparing RA patients and controls (T = 5.096, P < 0.001). Serum GA had a significant positive correlation with ESR (r = 0.546, P < 0.002) and CRP (r = 0.768, P < 0.001), a significant positive correlation with DAS-28 (r = 0.532 , P < 0.002), a significant positive correlation with mean carotid IMT (r = 0.471, P = 0.019). The mean carotid IMT showed a highly significant positive correlation with the disease duration (r = 0.645, P < 0.001), a positive correlation with severe disease activity (r = 0.771, P = 0.015), but negative correlation with mild and moderate disease activity (r = 0.500, P = 0.667) and ( r = 0.452, P = 0.059) respectively. Another significant positive correlation was found between the mean carotid IMT and the LDL (r = 0.408, P = 0.025) but negative correlation with total cholesterol and HDL (r = 0.120, P = 0.527) and (r = -0.250, P = 0.183). On comparing the mean carotid IMT with the presence of soft atheromatous plaque it gave negative results with positive correlation (T = -3.273, P = 0.003) Conclusion Serum GA is a specific and sensitive biomarker for detection of subclinical atherosclerosis and disease activity in RA.