Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pathogenetic therapy of RA is a complex task,
according to modern views on the development of

* Dept. of Microbiology, Medical College, Al-
Nahrain Univ.
** Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical
College, Al-Nahrain Univ.
*** Dept of Basic Science, College of Dentistry,
Univ. of Baghdad.

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autoimmune inflammation in RA, cytokine
imbalance plays a great part in RA pathogenesis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects many tissues and organs, but
principally attacks flexible (synovial) joints. Methotrexate is the most commonly used disease-modifying
antirheumatic drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methotrexate on serum levels of IL-1α and IL-8 in
rheumatoid arthritis.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (25 patients without treatment
and 25 patients are received methotraxate) and from 30 healthy age and sex matched individuals served as
controls. Serum IL-1α and IL-8 were measured by means of enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay.
RESULTS:
The present results showed that serum levels of IL-1α and IL-8 were significantly higher in RA patients
than in healthy controls (P<0.01), furthermore, level of IL-1α was significantly decrease in patients
treated with methotraxate as compared to those patients who have received no treatment (P<0. 01). On the
other hand serum level of IL-8 did not showed any significant differences between patients treated with
methotraxate and those patients without treatment (P>0. 05).
CONCLUSION:
These finding demonstrate that methotrexate turns out to be a good inhibitor for IL-α production. In
addition, IL-1α and IL-8 may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, and could
be use a