POS0490 SERUM MATRIX METALOPROTINASE 3 AS A MARKER TO DISCRIMINATE SUBCLINICAL DISEASE ACTIVITY FROM ULTRASOUND DEFINED REMISSION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease which results in chronic inflammation that primarily involves synovial joints resulting in progressive joint destruction [1]. Detection of subclinical disease activity is important as radiographic progression was observed during remission course in some cases [2]. Ultrasound can detect subclinical activity and synovial inflammation, which predict relapse and radiographic progression [3].Matrix Metaloprotinase 3 (MMP-3) is an enzyme, which is involved in joint destruction in RA patients. MMP-3 was found to correlate with disease activity, joint erosions, radiographic progression, drug responsiveness and disease outcome in patients with active RA [4]. However no data about its role in detection of subclinical activity in patients with clinical remission.Objectives:To assess the role of MMP-3 as a marker to discriminate subclinical activity from ultrasound remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients with remission.Methods:This study was conducted on 45 RA patients fulfilling remission or low disease activity criteria according to DAS 28 AND 45 healthy controls. Ultrasound evaluation was done for all patients using modified German US7 score. According to US7 score patients were classified into two groups: group with sonographic remission in which GS is 0±1 and the other group with subclinical disease activity with higher GS. Both groups underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation including MMP-3.Results:Sonographic remission was achieved in 44% of patients (20 patients). There was no statistically significant difference as regard age, gender, smoking, disease duration, morning stiffness duration, CDAI, treatment and laboratory data apart from hemoglobin level between patients with subclinical disease activity and patients with remission. However, there is statistically significant difference between the two groups as regard joint deformity, extra articular manifestations, DAS 28, SDAI and hemoglobin level.There was statistically significant difference in serum MMP-3 between RA patients and healthy control group. Serum MMP-3 was higher in RA patients with subclinical activity than patients with sonographic remission but the difference was not statistically significant (figure 1). Serum MMP-3 was positively correlated with ESR and synovitis score.Figure 1.Conclusion:Serum MMP-3 has correlation with US synovitis score. However, serum MMP-3 was not able to differentiate patients with sonographic remission from patients with subclinical disease activity. Ultrasound is still the gold standard for detection of subclinical disease activity.