Evaluation of Some Biochemical, Immunological, and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
1 Department of Chemistry, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq.
2 Department of Forensic Evidences, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq.
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy, 2026, 16(02), 151–159.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjbp.2026.16.2.0010
Publication history:
Received on 07 March 2026; revised on 08 April 2026; accepted on 10 April 2026
Abstract:
Study Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that mainly involves the synovial membrane of joints. The disease gradually destroys the cartilage and surrounding bone, causes loss of mobility and motor function, and has systemic extra-articular manifestations. A panel of serological, biochemical and immunological indicators that mirror the inflammation and activity of the disease is critical for an early diagnosis and an appropriate therapeutic follow-up.
Objective The current study was designed to determine the severity of certain inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR, IL-6, TNF-α), well-defined immunological markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RF, Anti-CCP), humoral and complement immune markers (IgG, C3, C4), and liver function and serum protein markers (TP and ALB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to the group of healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods: The present case-control study was conducted on 50 confirmed patients of rheumatoid arthritis as per the international classification criteria (ACR/EULAR 2010) along with another 50 presumably healthy individuals matched in age and sex as controls. Venous blood samples were obtained, and sera separated to determine the aforementioned markers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoturbidimetric assay, and standard biochemical methods. Statistical Analysis The independent samples t-test was used for the statistical analyses, assuming differences were significant at (p<0.05).
Results: The results showed that all inflammatory and immune indicators were significantly elevated in the patient group compared with the healthy individuals; the mean CRP of (18 7 ± 7 4) vs (3 84 ± 1 52) mg/L, the mean ESR of (42 60 ± 15 83) vs (12 40 ± 4 76) mm/hour, the mean IL-6 of (18 35 ± 6 72) vs (4 82 ± 1 63) picogram/mL, and the mean TNF-α of (15 64 ± 5 38) vs (5 17 ± 1 84) picogram/mL. RF was also increased significantly (86.40 ± 38.25) vs (9.72 ± 4.31) IU/ml; p < 0.01) and Anti-CCP (112.60 ± 47.84) vs (8.35 ± 3.72) U/ml p < 0.01). There was also a marked elevation of the patients' IgG, C3, C4, and total protein as well as a marked decrease of albumin level (3.61 ± 0.42) g/dL) when compared to healthy controls (4.31 ± 0.35) g/dL, indicating chronic inflammation and negative acute phase response.
Conclusion: The results suggest that the biochemical, immunological and inflammatory indicators taken together reflected the pathological status of rheumatoid arthritis as an integrate phenomenon. They authenticate that synergism of acute phase indicators, inflammatory cytokines, targeted auto-antibodies, and serum protein indicators can provide a broader scope laboratory evaluation than each singular indicator for augmentment use in early diagnosis, and while monitoring the therapeutic response.
Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis; C-reactive protein; Interleukin-6; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Rheumatoid factor; Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies; Complement C3 and C4; Serum albumin
Full text article in PDF:
Copyright information:
Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0