Background: Rituximab is a chimeric IgG1 kappa immunoglobulin that has been genetically modified to incorporate human constant region sequences together with murine light- and heavy-chain variable region sequences. People use it to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain malignancies. Objective: The study aimed to assess the potential association between the serum levels of Factor I, CD59, interleukins (IL)-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN)-γ and the response to Rituximab treatment in Iraqi rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the rheumatology center at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Ninety adult patients who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and are receiving Rituximab intravenous infusions were included. The enrolled patients were divided into a responder group (45 patients) and a non-responder group (45 patients). The response to Rituximab was assessed according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Results: The serum levels of Factor I and CD59 were significantly higher in the non-responders group in comparison to the responders group. In addition, the serum IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were significantly elevated in the non-responders group in comparison to the responders group. The estimated marker serum levels showed a strong, significant correlation with the 6-month change in DAS28. Conclusions: In Rituximab nonresponder RA patients, serum levels of Factor I, CD59, Factor H, IL-6, and IFN-γ are higher, and they have good potential to be used in the assessment of the response to Rituximab therapy.
Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) is an essential marker for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), but its relationship with pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and inflammatory markers has been scantily covered in extant literature. To evaluate the level of CTHRC1 protein in the sera of 100 RA patients and 25 control and compare levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), RA disease activity (DAS28), and inflammatory factors. Higher significant serum levels of CTHRC1 (29.367 ng/ml), TNF-α (63.488 pg/ml), and IL-10 (67.1 pg/ml) were found in patient sera as compared to that in control sera (CTHRC1 = 15.732 ng/ml, TNF-α = 33.788 pg/ml, and IL-10 = 25.122 pg/ml). There was no significant correlation be
... Show MoreBackground: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) characterized by local and systemic effects of inflammation has a wide range of biochemical markers implicated directly or indirectly to its pathogenesis.
Patients and method: Serum of (55 Females) of newly diagnosed RA and 23 healthy Females were used to estimate their interlukine levels.Objective: To evaluate interlukine 35 (IL-35) in Iraqi females with newly diagnosed
RA and to assess its contribution in the disease process.
Results: Females of RA showed a significant increase in the levels of interleukine 35(IL-35) and in the levels of High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs CRP). While there
... Show MoreCytokines are polypeptides with several functions that are produced by a variety of bodily cells. They are clinically significant for illness diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are the most important cytokines for cell division and proliferation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced in excess in mesenchymal, epithelial, and especially in tumor cells. In this study the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF were detected for 41 colorectal cancer patients and 41 healthy control group at Nanakaly Hospital by comparing their serum concentrations for patients paining from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with those of the control subjects. The result shows a s
... Show MoreGhrelin and leptin are two hormones that possess multiple functions, including appetite regulation, maintenance of the tissue homeostasis and regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. A few studies on serum ghrelin and leptin levels in autoimmune diseases have exhibited conflicting results. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the two energy balance hormones and autoimmune diseases. Serum ghrelin and leptin levels were assessed in 94 adult patients, 61 females and 33 males, with various autoimmune diseases (celiac disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis) as well as in 35 healthy people as controls, using commercially available ELISA kits. Statistically important distinction
... Show MoreBackground: Anti-RA33 antibodies and anti-CCP antibodies are highly specific markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but are not detectable in all RA patients.
Anti-RA33 antibodies are directed to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNP-A2),while anti-CCP antibodies are directed to modified epitope on proteins that undergo conversion of amino acid arginine to citrullin by citrullination.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to show the correlation between anti-RA33 antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) in terms of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in Iraqi patients.
Subjects and methods: This s
... Show MoreIntroduction and Aim: The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-39, a member of the IL-12 family plays a key role in the inflammatory response by modulating immune cell activity and inflammation. A literature search shows no study undertaken for the effect of IL-39's on arthritis so far. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of IL-39 in rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and Methods: This study involved 80 patients with rheumatoid arthritis registered at the Rheumatology Clinic at Baghdad teaching hospital. The patients were divided into three groups based on treatments received. Group 1 included patients who were not on any treatment for arthritis, Group 2 with patients on hydroxychloroquine and or prednisone treatment,
... Show MoreBackground: Researchers have found that interleukin 6 (IL-6) plays a crucial regulatory function in the onset and progression of a wide range of inflammatory disorders. One of the more prevalent inflammatory illnesses affecting people today is rheumatoid arthritis.
Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to compare the IL-6 levels of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to those of healthy controls and to examine the relationship between IL-6 and RA-related demographic and clinical factors.
... Show MoreBackground:
Objectives : This prospective study aimed to estimate interleukins 1 and 10 levels in acute hepatitis (G) in Iraqi patients with leukemiaHepatitis G virus and GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA viruses that were independently identified in 1995, and were subsequently found to be two isolates of the same virus. Blood transfusion is the main risk factor for HGV transmission Immune-mediated mechanisms are believed to play an important pathogenic role in hepatitis G virus infection. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays an important role in the inflammatory process. implying that IL-1 may play a role in viral clearance and suggesting that IL-1 has direct antiviral
... Show MoreObjective To detect the changes in serum Lipids among Iraqi patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and the effects of drug therapy.
Patients and methods Fifty Iraqi patients with untreated active Rheumatoid Arthritis and 50 matched healthy control were studied with concentration on estimation of fasting serum Lipid profile which is repeated after 3month treatment with different disease modifying anti Rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) regimens.
Results Fifty Iraqi patients were included in this prospective study 47 females (94%) and 3 males (6%). The mean age of patients was (45±3.20).
fifty healthy individuals were included in this study as a control group 45 females (90%) and 5 males (10%) the mean age of the control group was