Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the potential role of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), an endothelial factor, in endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to determine its relation to disease activity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers.
Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional case-control study. One-hundred patients with RA were selected from out-patient clinics of Menoufia University Hospital, Menoufia, Egypt from May 2019 to May 2020. Fifty patients previously diagnosed with RA for more than 6 months were included as Group I, and fifty patients newly diagnosed with RA were included as Group II. Fifty healthy age- and gender-matched individuals were evaluated as the control group (Group III). Complete blood count, random blood glucose, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lipid profile, rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, serum levels of urea, creatinine, C-reactive protein, VCAM-1, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity were determined.
Results: Patients with RA showed significantly higher serum VCAM-1, malondialdehyde, ESR, C-reactive protein, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and atherogenic index levels than the control group. Also, they showed significantly lower total antioxidant capacity and high-density lipoprotein levels than control group. A significant positive correlation between serum VCAM-1 with disease activity, serum malondialdehyde, ESR, and C-reactive protein was observed. Also, a significant negative correlation between serum VCAM-1 and total antioxidant capacity was present.
Conclusion: Serum VCAM-1 increases in RA, and it correlates with disease activity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers.
Footnotes
Disclosure. Authors have no conflict of interests, and the work was not supported or funded by any drug company.
- Received January 3, 2021.
- Accepted April 9, 2021.
- Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal
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