Serum Expression Of IGFBP-6 In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Its Clinical Significance

Objective : To investigate the clinical significance and role of IGFBP-6 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients.Methods:Serum levels of IGFBP-6 of 43 RA patients and 25 healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and were compared.The clinical and laboratory parameters of RA group including the swollen joints count(SJC),the tender joints count(TJC),visual analogue scale pain score,C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),rheumatoid factor(RF),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(anti-CCP),hemoglobin(Hb)and platelet(PLT)were collected.The 28 joints disease activity score(DAS28)was calculated.RA patients were divided into three subgroups according to the DAS28: high disease activity group(DAS28>5.1),medium disease activity group(3.2<DAS28?5.1)and low disease activity group(DAS28?3.2).Difference among groups and correlation between serum IGFBP-6 level and laboratory parameters were analyzed.Results:The serum level of IGFBP-6 in RA group was significantly lower than that in healthy control group(P<0.001).The serum levels of IGFBP-6 in the low,medium and high disease activity groups were all significantly lower than that in the healthy control group(P<0.001),and the level of IGFBP-6 in the low disease activity group was significantly higher than that in the high disease activity group(P < 0.05).The serum level of IGFBP-6 in RA group was positively correlated with Hb while negativly correlated with PLT,ESR and DAS28(P < 0.05).The serum level of IGFBP-6 was not significantly correlated with RF and anti-CCP.Conclusion:IGFBP-6 may play a protective role in the development of RA,and the serum level of IGFBP-6 may reflect disease activity of RA to some extent.