Relationship between serum hyaluronic acid level and disease activity in early RA

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2004 Sep;63(9):1166-8.

Relationship between serum hyaluronic acid level and disease activity in

early rheumatoid arthritis.

Majeed M, McQueen F, Yeoman S, McLean L.

AstraZeneca R & D Charnwood, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 5RH, UK.

lachy.mclean@...

OBJECTIVES: To measure hyaluronic acid (HA) levels, which are raised in

active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in patients with early RA, and to

assess the correlation with clinical and laboratory indices of disease

activity and with subsequent radiographic erosive status. PATIENTS AND

METHODS: Patients fulfilling ACR criteria were recruited into a

prospective cohort within 6 months of disease onset and reviewed every 6

months. An HA binding protein based sandwich ELISA was used to measure

HA in 240 sera from 82 patients at regular intervals. RESULTS: Patients

had higher HA levels than age matched healthy blood donor controls

(median 37.4 v 29.1 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.02), which increased with

more prolonged disease. Baseline HA level correlated with measures of

disease activity, including swollen and tender joint counts, HAQ, global

assessments, ESR, and CRP; was higher in men; and increased with age.

There was no relationship with HLA-DRB1 shared epitope or rheumatoid

factor status. At 6 and 12 month follow up visits, HA levels were higher

in patients who later developed erosions. However, a raised HA level was

not a good predictor of erosions.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum HA level correlates with clinical and laboratory

measures of disease activity in early RA, but is unlikely to be of

practical use in clinical practice.

PMID: 15308530

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