| متن مقاله | Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that leads to destruction of joints and adjacent tissue. Several inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have critical roles in RA pathogenesis. Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) are the main stay of therapy in treatment of RA. The aim of this study was to assess the plasma levels of TNF-α between three groups untreated, undertreatment patients and healthy subjects and also evaluate the effect of DMARDs on the plasma levels of TNF-α and severity of RA disease. Methods: Peripheral Blood was obtained from three groups including 30 untreated, 30 undertreatment patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Undertreatment patients were received combinational DMARDs therapy including Methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine plus Prednisolone. The plasma levels of TNF-α in three groups were measured by ELISA technique. The disease severity was assessed by disease activity score (DAS-28) and patients based on DAS-28 were categorized in four different groups including remission, low, moderate and high disease activity. Results: The plasma levels of TNF-α had no significant difference between three groups (p<0.05) but the DAS-28 was significantly higher In untreated group in comparison with undertreatment group (p<0.01). DAS-28 was significantly correlated with TNF-α level in untreated patients (p=0.01, r=0.549) but we did not see significant correlation between DAS-28 and TNF-α in undertreatment group (p=0.12, r=-0.29). |