14-3-3 Eta protein as a novel biomarker in early detection of uveitis in Egyptian juvenile idiopathic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients: Diagnostic and prognostic value.

Background and objectives: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorders of undetermined cause. Uveitis is one of the commonest and most dangerous extra-articular manifestations of JIA and RA presenting chronic anterior uveitis with non-specific biomarkers for its early detection. We evaluated the role of serum 14-3-3 Eta protein to assess its potential role as a novel biomarker for the early detection of uveitis in Egyptian JIA and RA patients as well as its correlation with disease activity.

Methods: A case-control study included three patient groups: group I includes 42 JIA patients, group II includes 42 RA patients, and an equal number of apparently healthy individuals matched in sex and age for each group of patients as controls, recruited from the rheumatology outpatient clinic. All participants were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory investigations with assessment of serum levels of 14-3-3 Eta protein, and ophthalmologic investigations to assess disease activity, eye affection, and its relation to 14-3-3 Eta protein level, and other disease variables among those patients.

Results: a statistically significant difference was estimated between the two patients' groups and controls regarding 14-3-3 Eta protein level. 14-3-3 Eta protein has a significant positive correlation with disease activity in JIA and RA patients. Also, RA patients with clinical uveitis had higher levels of the 14-3-3 Eta protein, while there were no significant differences among JIA patients with or without uveitis.

Conclusion: 14-3-3 Eta protein is a potential diagnostic biomarker in early detection of uveitis in RA patients, as it is higher in patients versus controls especially those with uveitis with a cut-off point 57.5, at which patients must have a thorough eye examination to receive early intervention and, to prevent complications, while it doesn't have the same role in JIA patients. 14-3-3 Eta protein is a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for JIA and RA being correlated with disease activity.