EVALUATION OF SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6, FETUIN-A, LIPOCALIN-2, AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS.

Several biochemical factors have increasingly been reported as diagnostic tools associated with certain diseases. C-reactive protein (CRP) has been widely accepted as a systemic inflammatory marker, nonetheless, non-specificity remains innocent for diagnosis. Hence looking for alternative supportive more specific diagnostic markers was subjective for continuous research. Aim - Identifying whether Interleukin-6, Fetuin-A, and Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) could have a potential contribution to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prognosis and diagnosis. RA patients were recruited, and equally matched control healthy individuals were assigned for comparison. Blood was withdrawn and serum was separated and stored at -80 for future analysis. Target parameters were measured including Interleukin-6, Fetuin-A, LCN-2, and CRP. The outcome has revealed potentially significant differences between measured parameters in RA patients compared to the control group, Fetuin, LCN-2, and CRP were significantly (P<0.0) elevated. The measured parameters could be considered as additional parameters for the diagnosis and prognosis of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.