Pre-B Cell Colony-Enhancing Factor as a Marker of Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Objective: Our objective in this study was to evaluate pre-B cell enhancing factor (PBEF)/ Visfatin as a disease marker of rheumatoid arthritis, studying its serum level, clinical significance, association with activity and radiographic joint damage. Methods: 28 patients diagnosed according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA were enrolled in the study. They underwent clinical and laboratory assessment. Radiographic assessment was done and Larsen score was calculated. Anti-CCP3 IgG antibodies were determined using semiquantitative ELISA and Serum PBEF was determined using ELISA and statistical analysis of the results was performed. Results: There was a significant rise in both anti-CCP and serum PBEF levels in RA patients versus controls. PBEF serum levels were significantly higher among patients with erosions as compared to patients without detectable erosions. Serum PBEF showed a significant decrease among patients with severe activity as compared to patients with moderate activity. Using the Ranked Sperman Correlation test, we did not find any significant correlation between age of patients, disease duration, BMI, HAQ, VAS or the DAS 28 with the level of PBEF. The test validity characters for discrimination of erosions in RA for serum PBEF showed 53.8 % specificity, 86.7% sensitivity and 71.4% efficacy. Conclusion: PBEF has a role in the pathogenesis of RA and could be considered as a disease marker in RA and a marker of radiographic bone damage. Further studies are needed to determine the possibility of PBEF as a potential therapeutic target in early RA to prevent erosions. (Dina S. Al-Zifzaf, Eman A. Kaddah, Samah A. El Bakri, Amer Abd ElZaher and Rania Abo- Shady Pre-B Cell Colony-Enhancing Factor as a Marker of Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Life Science Journal. 2011; 8(4):628-634) (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.