Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Associated with Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta Analysis

Our study examined the relationship between the levels of matrix metalloproteinases [MMP]-3 and the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA]& among severity of the disease. We employed rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria in various bibliographic databases to extract published studies relevant to this investigation. The Revman manager version 5.3& winpepi version 11.65 software was used for the statistical analysis. A total of 329 studies were initially searched, and 6 studies with 652 RA patients and 658 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. Results are represented in terms of Odds ratios [ORs] and 95 % confidence intervals [CIs] to estimate the association between MMP-3 and RA. There was significant association between MMP-3 and RA. Significance between study heterogeneity existed between mild and severe RA. The meta-analysis results suggested that the levels of MMP-3 were higher in patients with RA than those in the control group. Subgroup analysis according to severity showed that the levels of MMP-3 were higher in severe RA than in mild RA. We systematically investigated the association between MMP-3 and RA susceptibility; however, the results show a correlation among the disease severity& these raised level of MMP-3 associated with the pathogenesis of RA.