Relationship between Different Hematological Parameters and Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background and objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of immune disorder that has an impact on the entire body. The objective was to measure and compare various hematological parameter values between chronic and new cases also in new patients who exhibited varying degrees of disease activity. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey, conducted in Rizgary Hospital and private clinics in Erbil city/ Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Two groups each of 30 patients; with newly diagnosed the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria are divided into four groups, each of which has a point score: joint symptoms, serology (including Rheumatoid factor and/or Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibody), duration of symptoms (less than or more than 6 weeks), and acute-phase reactants (c-reactive protein and/or erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis cases enrolled in this study from October 2021 till September 2022. Hematological parameter and disease activity monitored and compared between both groups, in addition to comparison between cases in the same group. Results: The majority (81.7%) of patients were female and (18.3%) of them were male, mean age ± std. deviation of respondents was 48.80 ± 9.13 years. There was significant statistical association between study groups and joint swelling, multiple or single joint and disease activity (DAS 28), also, the difference between both groups was statistically significant regarding mean pain score, white blood cells, serum folate, and rheumatoid factor. Likewise; the association was significant between study groups and multiple or single joint. There was significant statistical association between study groups and DAS 28, the majority (86.7%) of newly diagnosed patients had low – moderate level of DAS 28 while 40% of chronic subjects measured high level of DAS 28. Conclusion: Hematological markers including disease activity score, white blood cells, serum folate, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor were good indicators for measurement of rheumatoid arthritis severity and activity in the selected sample of patients.