Serum and synovial fluid interleukin-17 concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relation to disease activity, radiographic severity and power Doppler ultrasound

摘要

Aim of the workTo investigate serum and synovial fluid levels of IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and its correlation with disease activity and severity.Patients and methods20 RA patients together with 20 primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients and 15 healthy individuals matched for age and sex as control groups were enrolled in this study. Both RA and KOA patients presented with knee effusion. Paired samples of serum and synovial fluid (SF) were collected from RA, OA patients and serum samples from the healthy individuals. RA disease activity was assessed using DAS-28 score and power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) according to the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR). Radiographic damage was evaluated according to Larsen score.ResultsSerum levels of IL-17 were significantly elevated in RA patients compared to controls (p?