Abstract

STUDY OF SERUM MALONDIALDEHYDE, NITRIC OXIDE, VITAMIN E LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by symmetric erosive synovitis and sometimes shows multisystem involvement. The long-term outcome of the disease is characterized by significant morbidity and increased mortality. Elevated free radical generations in inflamed joints and impaired antioxidant system have been implicated in RA. Nitric oxide (NO) can also induce tissue damage, especially after conversion into peroxynitrite radical (ONOOÃ?¯Ã?â??Ã?·). Aims: To estimate the serum levels of MDA, Nitric Oxide (NO) and Vitamin E in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Materials and Methods: The study includes 50 RA patients who were fulfilling the American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for classification of RA and 50 age and sex matched healthy subjects without any major illness were considered as controls. MDA, NO and Vitamin E were estimated in serum. Results: The estimated mean levels (mean ± SD) of serum MDA, NO, Vitamin E, in control group were 3.55 Ã?¯Ã?â??Ã?± 0.30, 36.23 Ã?¯Ã?â??Ã?± 7.03, 14.61 Ã?¯Ã?â??Ã?± 1.74, respectively and in patients with RA they were 5.39 Ã?¯Ã?â??Ã?± 0.79, 78.81 Ã?¯Ã?â??Ã?± 8.56, 10.56 Ã?¯Ã?â??Ã?± 1.72, respectively. The statistical analysis by unpaired t-test shows that the levels of serum MDA and NO significantly increased (p< 0.001) and the vitamin E levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in RA patients when compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: The serum values of MDA, NO and Vitamin E all together provided fairly useful index of oxidative stress in RA patients. The results of current study support the concept of oxidative stress leading to tissue damage.

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