Serum transferrin receptors in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE--Serum transferrin receptors (sTfR) were determined in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify a possible relationship with the degree of anaemia and with the severity of the inflammatory disease. METHODS--sTfR, IL1-b, TNF-a and common parameters of iron metabolism were studied in 72 patients with active RA. Anaemia (Hb 16 and ferritin > 50 ng/ml). No significant difference in sTfR was observed in the two groups. CONCLUSION--sTfR appear to be elevated and related to the degree of anaemia and to the inflammatory process in RA. Reduced sTfR levels in patients with RA compared with patients with iron-deficiency anaemia may indicate a reduced erythropoietic activity in RA.