RA is often characterized by progressive joint damage that, if not stopped by treatment, often leads to substantial limitation of function and progressive disability. The nature of progressive joint damage varies considerably, with some RA patients experiencing more rapid progression than others, based on myriad factors. Increased serum alkaline phosphatase concentration (ALP) is a common feature in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although its origin remains unclear. ALP as a marker of cell-mediated immunity reflected monocyte/macrophage activity and was increased in our study, suggesting immunological and inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (R.A). It can be used as a non-invasive marker of chronic inflammation and may provide additional information about disease prognosis.
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease affecting the joints with varying severity. Risk factors include age, sex, genetics, and environment.RA causes permanent joint damage, rheumatoid vasculitis, and Felty syndrome. The treatment goals are to reduce the pain and stop further damage. The peak incidence is between ages 35 and 50 years. Women are more affected than men. Alkaline phosphatases (ALP) are a group of isoenzymes located on the outer layer of the cell membrane and catalyze the hydrolysis of organic phosphate esters in the extracellular space. Many studies have proven the link between increased ALP levels and RA severity.
Methods: The study aims to prove the correlation between raised ALP and the severity of RA.120 patients diagnosed with RA based on the ACR/EULAR 2010 RA classification were taken in their fasting blood and stored in the lab at 2-8 degrees. Their sera were extracted and subjected to spectrophotometry using the Thermo Scientific Multiskan SkyHigh apparatus. The data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet, and the result calculation was done. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27, and the 'P' value of >0.005 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The ALP values were significant (P=0.005) in the severe grade of RA with a mean value of 224.2 +/- 80.4 IU/L. The higher the ALP value, the higher the ARA score and the severity of the disease. The mean age of our subjects was 62 years old. Kruskall Wallis test was applied as we also measured the level of CRP. Other related variables with RA were described using the ANOVA test.
Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between raised levels of IL-6 and the severity of RA. Drugs that block the activity of IL-6 should be explored to find the potential cure for this debilitating disease.
