Serum sclerostin and dickkopf-1 levels in patients with rheumatoid artrithis and the assesment of their relationship with disease activity

The aim of this study is to compare serum Sclerostın and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) levels in patients with rheumatoid artrithis (RA) and healty controls to determine their clinical significance in patients with RA. Sixty (46 women, 14 men) with RA according to American Collage of Rhematology criteria and at least one year follow up, enrolled in this study and compared thırty healty controls (15 women, 15 men). To evaluate disease activity score 28 (DAS28) was calculated. Physical function capasity (disability) was asssessed with Health Assesment Quastionnarie (HAQ) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C Reactive Protein (CRP), Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and antıcyclıc cıtrullınated peptıde (ACCP) levels were determined by routıne laboratory methods. Serum sclerostın and Dkk-1 levels of the patients with RA and healty controls were measured by ELISA. Radiographic assesment of hands joints was evaluated accordind to the modified Larsen score. Between patients with RA and healty controls, there was significant difference with respect to the age (respectively p=0.00) and significant difference with respect to gender (p=0.033) The mean disease duration was 12.5±5.8 years, and the mean DAS28 score was 4.0±1.27 in patients with RA. Serum sclerostın and dickkopf-1 levels were significantly higher (p=0.002, p=0.049) in patients with RA compared to healty controls. Serum sclerostın and dickkopf-1 levels were doesnt correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity. There was no significant correlation between radiological scoring of joint damage and serum sclerostın and dickkopf-1levels (p 0.05). This study shows that Serum sclerostın and dickkopf-1 levels were increased in RA patients in comparison to control group but there was no significant correlation with the disease activity and joint damage. The sample of our study can be enlarged and further studies are required. Keywords: Rheumatoid artrithis, sclerostın, dıckkopf-1