Evaluation of Adenosine deaminase, Serum C-reactive protein and alkaline phosphatase activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients in Shivamogga district, South India

Introduction & Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prototypical inflammatory joint disease. The degree of inflammation is reflected in the extent of joint damage, which further has influence on the quality of life of patients with RA. Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) has been previously proposed to predict disease activity in patients with RA. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of serum ADA, CRP & ALP in Rheumatoid arthritis patients and compare it with healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Fifty four RA patients and fifty four age matched healthy controls between 35-65 years were included in the study. ADA &ALP activity and CRP levels in serum were measured in all the subjects and correlated. Results: Serum ADA level was found significantly higher among RA subjects with respect to controls (31.37±4.16 versus 11.19±1.802 U/L; P < 0.0001). Serum ALP levels were also increased in RA cases as compared to controls and were statistically significant (145.17±15.86 versus 83.19±17.55 U/L; P < 0.0001). Serum CRP levels were also increased among RA subjects when compared to controls (2.60±1.16 versus 0.283±0.1161). Conclusion: ADA assay can be a reliable, sensitive and specific test. CRP is an important inflammatory marker for rapid diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Increase in ALP in RA patients when compared to healthy controls suggests the role of serum ALP as a marker of disease activity in RA. However, larger and well controlled studies are needed to establish its role as inflammatory marker.