Identification of inflammatory biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis patients; a case-control study

Abstract

controlled, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in some cases, to disability. aim of this study identify inflammatory biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This case-control study was performed on 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients who referred to the Rheumatology Clinic of Shahid Khomeini Hospital in Ilam and their healthy counterparts. All patients were examined by a rheumatologist for disease activity based on DAS28 (Disease Activity Score Calculator for Rheumatoid Arthritis) criteria. The results of this study showed that the mean lymphocyte count in the case group was lower than the control group, and there was a statistically significant relationship between lymphocyte level in the two groups. The mean neutrophil count was higher in the case group than in the control group, and this relationship was significant. The mean neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in controls and in women more than men. Stepwise logistic regression showed that age, sex, DAS28, VitD (Vitamin D), RF (rheumatoid factor), and NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) significantly predict the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis ( p value < 0.05). Therefore, NLR can be used as a prognostic factor.