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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pathogenetic therapy of RA is a complex task, according to modern views on the development of * Dept. of Microbiology, Medical College, Al- Nahrain Univ. ** Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical College, Al-Nahrain Univ. *** Dept of Basic Science, College of Dentistry, Univ. of Baghdad. (1) . autoimmune inflammation in RA, cytokine imbalance plays a great part in RA pathogenesis Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects many tissues and organs, but principally attacks flexible (synovial) joints. Methotrexate is the most commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methotrexate on serum levels of IL-1α and IL-8 in rheumatoid arthritis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (25 patients without treatment and 25 patients are received methotraxate) and from 30 healthy age and sex matched individuals served as controls. Serum IL-1α and IL-8 were measured by means of enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. RESULTS: The present results showed that serum levels of IL-1α and IL-8 were significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls (P

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