The impact of therapies as monotherapy with combined therapy on novel and traditional biomarkers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Asmaa Awni Haydar; Ijlal Rstam Abdullah

doi:10.15218/zjms.2020.038

Authors

Asmaa Awni Haydar Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
Ijlal Rstam Abdullah Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2020.038

Keywords:

Rheumatic arthritis, Monotherapy, Combined therapy, Anti-rheumatoid, Inflammatory markers

Abstract

Background and objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that influences many tissues and organs. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anti-cyclic citrullinated protein, rheumatoid factor, and 14-3-3η protein have been found to play an important role in both the diagnosis and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of anti-rheumatoid medication, as mono- and combined therapy, on these inflammatory mediators.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at Hawler Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Erbil, Iraq. Forty-two patients of both genders with rheumatoid arthritis participated in the study as group I. Forty-four age–gender matched adults (with no rheumatoid arthritis) were included as a comparison group or group II. Serum levels of biomarkers were determined by enzyme linked immune sorbent assay.

Results: There was a statistically significant (P <0.05) increased level of serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, 14-3-3η protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and rheumatic factor levels in group I compared with group II. The serum level of the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide significantly decreased in rheumatoid patients treated with combined therapy compared with mono remedy. However, the mean of body mass index, age, and gender of group I was non-significantly different from group II (P >0.05).

Conclusion: Therapeutic regimen of mono or combined therapy played a role in changing levels of inflammatory markers. Anti-cyclic citrullinated protein significantly decreased with the combined therapy in comparison with the monotherapy regimen.

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