Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and kidney damage in rheumatoid arthritis
Tsybul'ko, S.V.; Baranov, A.A.; Borodin, A.G.; Korshunov, N.I.; Kirdianov, S.Iu.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 73(5): 8-11
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 11517757 Document Number: 535285
Aim: To investigate clinical significance of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and kidney damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Material and methods: 94 patients (84 women and 10 men, mean age 45.2+-11.9 years and the disease duration 7.5+-6.5 years) with RA and 20 donors were examined. In 37(39.4%) and 57(60.6%) patients radiological stages I-II and III-IV, respectively, were determined. TNF-alpha and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by ELISA. Results: Serum levels of TNF-alpha in patients with RA appeared significantly higher than in donors (10.9+-22.1 pg/ml vs 0.6+-2.0 pg/ml, p<0.001). 33 (35.1%) of 94 patients had TNF-alpha levels above 6.6 pg/ml. High serum levels of TNF-alpha correlated significantly with the presence of nephrotic syndrome (r=0.22, p=0.03) caused by secondary amyloidosis. There were no correlations between high levels of TNF-alpha and sex, age, disease duration, stages and clinical activity in patients with RA. Positive correlation was found between high levels of TNF-alpha and ESR (r=0.30, p=0.003), CRP (r=0.37, p=0.0001). Conclusion: Thus, TNF-alpha may be involved in pathogenesis of amyloidosis in RA.