Correlation between inflammation related indicators and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis

Zhuang Yilei; Li Yufeng; Lin Lu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-7151.2025.02.013

Abstract：Objective To investigate the correlation between cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Using retrospective research method,68 cases of RA patients admitted in Longyan People's Hospital from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected as research objects and included in observation group,and 65 healthy examinees during the same period in physical examination department were selected as control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect serum COX-2,CRP and ESR,the differences in the levels of above indicators between two groups were compared.According to disease activity score in 28 joints(DAS28),the patients in observation group were divided into low activity group(21 cases),medium activity group(29 cases)and high activity group(18 cases).The levels of COX-2,CRP and ESR in different disease activity groups were compared.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between above indicators and DAS28 score.Results The serum levels of COX-2,CRP and ESR in observation group were higher than those in control group[COX-2(ng/L):24.93±2.41 vs.11.62±1.52;CRP(mg/L):3.64±0.71 vs.0.61±0.07;ESR(mm/h):29.52±5.91 vs.14.36±1.62;all P<0.05].The levels of COX-2,CRP and ESR in high activity group were higher than those in medium activity group and low activity group[COX-2(ng/L):29.31±2.81 vs.23.77±2.14,17.63±1.52;CRP(mg/L):4.24±0.80 vs.3.55±0.67,1.92±0.35;ESR(mm/h):35.63±6.71 vs.28.86±4.25,20.34±3.84;all P<0.05],and the levels of COX-2,CRP and ESR in moderate activity group were higher than those in low activity group(all P<0.05).The levels of serum COX-2,CRP and ESR were positively correlated with DAS28 score(r values were 0.692,0.614,0.722,and P values were 0.034,0.037,0.022).Conclusion The levels of serum COX-2,CRP and ESR are closely related to the occurrence and disease activity of RA,and could serve as reference indicators for the determination of RA disease activity.