Cumulative effect of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in 40 known cases of active rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases such as cancer, hypertension and inflammatory diseases. Although previous evidences provided extensive literature about the biological role of antioxidant enzymes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is a paucity of satisfactory explanation regarding the alteration in the level of antioxidant enzymes along with marker of systemic inflammation in RA. The objective of present study was to estimate the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and Ceruloplasmin in active RA patients. Methods: 40 patients of either sex (30-50 years age group) suffering from active RA and 40 normal healthy individuals served as control; were included in the study. Above mentioned parameters were estimated using standard methods and data from patients and controls were compared by using Student’s t-test. Results: Erythrocyte SOD, CAT and GSHPx activity were significantly low in RA subjects (P<0.001) whereas plasma Ceruloplasmin level was found to be significantly high (P<0.001) as compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that combined effect of inflammation and free radical generation is involved in the pathogenesis of active RA, characterized by imbalance in antioxidant enzyme status and enhanced CRP levels, which served as an excellent marker of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation in active RA.