Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Correlation between SCE frequency and disease activity

摘要

Our objective was to investigate whether sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are increased and correlate with disease activity. SCE analysis has been performed on metaphase chromosomes obtained from peripheral blood lymphocyte culture in 20 active RA patients and 20 healthy controls. SCE frequencies were higher in active patients than in patients in clinical remission (p < 0.001). Also, SCE values in inactive patients were increased compared with normal controls (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between SCE frequencies and disease duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. In conclusion, the elevated SCE frequencies may be interpreted as an indicator providing genetic predisposition to RA. DNA damage and DNA repair mechanism defects may contribute to the RA process. In addition, SCE analysis may be a useful marker of disease activity and response to the therapy in RA.