Serum Levels of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP). Predictors of Disease Progression in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease characterized by destruction of joint structures
such as articular cartilage and bone. The pathogenic mechanisms responsible for
tissue destruction are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to
measure the serum concentrations of specific cartilage and bone molecules reflecting
tissue turnover to investigate disease activity. The study included 30 rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) patients with age range 42 – 66 years, sixteen patients were rapid
erosive patients and fourteen were slow erosive, compared with 20 matched normal
population with age range 40 – 63 years. All studied individuals were subjected to
full history taking clinical examination and laboratory investigations including
measurement of serum levels of cartilageoligomeric matrix protein (COMP),
hyaluronic acid (HA), high sensitive C- reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (ESR) and RF concentration, measurement of activity of RA by
disease activity score ( DAS) 28 joint counts. The study showed a significantly higher
values of COMP, HA, CRP and ESR in slow erosive (P < 0.001) and rapid erosive (P
<0.0001) RA patients when compared to controls. There were significantly higher
values of COMP, HA, CRP and ESR in rapid erosive RA patients compared to slow
erosive RA patients. A significant positive correlation between serum levels of
COMP and HA and age, disease duration, Larsen score, DAS and CRP and ESR was
found. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between serum levels of
COMP and HA (r = 0.674, P <0.01). It could beconcluded that the measurement of
some serological biomarkers that reflect bone and cartilage destruction in RA
patients, could be used to investigate disease activity and increase the knowledge of
the basic pathophysiology of joint disease.