Correlation between prolidase activity and vitamin D deficiency in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a systemic autoimmune disease defined by persistent inflammation of the synovial membrane of joints. Prolidase, a metalloprotease, promotes collagen metabolism. It breaks dipeptide bonds containing proline in bone and connective tissue. High collagen production and Prolidase levels are linked. Multiple disorders, including rheumatic diseases, have high Prolidase levels. The case-control study comprised 90 volunteers undergoing medical follow-up at Samarra General Hospital. Approximately 30 were healthy individuals who served as a control group for the research, and the remaining 60 patients had been clinically diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. In the Control group, and Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, the results of Prolidase, Vit D, CRP, RF, S. Calcium and ESR showed a significant difference statistically was found between control vs RA patients groups (p-value ≤ 0.001) for each variable separately, and Prolidase correlated negatively with ESR, where (r=-0.270*). The study concludes there is no correlation between Prolidase activity levels and vitamin D deficiency; on the other hand, Prolidase negatively correlates with ESR levels. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, prolidase, vitamin D, C-reactive protein