[Correlations between serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13) concentrations and markers of disease activity in early rheumatoid arthritis].

The purpose of this study was to analyse the correlations between serum concentrations of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13) and clinical markers of disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study group consisted of 30 RA patients, untreated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or corticosteroids, with disease duration less than 3 years. The analysis of serum concentrations of MMPs was based on a quantitative sandwich ELISA. We observed the positive significant correlations between studied MMPs and clinical markers of disease activity, such as number of swollen joints or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Furthermore, we revealed significant correlations between serum MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13 concentrations and disease activity score (DAS) (p < 0.01; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.05 respectively). We conclude that studied matrix metallo-proteinases might be useful clinical markers of disease activity in early rheumatoid arthritis.