5`Nucleotidase in reheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

الملخص EN

Aim of work: Our aim was to evaluate serum and synovial 5`nucleotidase (5`NT) in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials & Methods: The study was carried on twenty RA patients and twenty OA patients diagnosed according to ACR criteria and compared to twenty subjects suffering from traumatic knee effusion serving as a control group.

Serum and synovial samples were assayed for the level of 5`NT with the ELISA technique.

Results: There was a higher value of 5`NT in RA than OA together with strong correlation of serum 5`NT with ESR.

However, 5`NT was found to be higher in the synovial fluid than in the serum indicating its local production.

Conclusion: We concluded that 5`NT can be used as a marker of inflammation.