PLASMA LACTOFERRIN AND NEUTROPHIL ELASTASE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

In order to assess lactoferrin (LF), stored in specific granules of neutrophils, as a marker of inflammation, LF was measured in plasma and serum samples of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In active RA, the median plasma LF level (800 ng/ml) was significantly higher than in normal individuals (220 ng/ml) (P<0.00001) and patients with active SLE (235 ng/ml) (P<0.00001)