The Role of Bilirubin in Rheumatoid Arthritis as a Biomarker

Özet

Objectives: Serum bilirubin (Bb) has an anti-inflammatory biologic effect through its antioxidant component.The present study aims to reveal the importance of serum Bb in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a biomarker.Methods: This study was designed as a case-control study. Seventy-five RA patients with age (p=0.31) andgender matched 75 controls were included in this study. Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameterswere analyzed retrospectively. Serum direct Bb (DBb), indirect Bb (InBb), total Bb (TBb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) data were recorded. Disease activity in RA was assessed using theDisease Activity Score 28 (DAS28).Results: In this study, acute phase reactants, CRP (p<0.01) and ESR (p<0.01) were significantly higher in ourstudy group; DBb was found significantly lower (p<0.01) than the control group. ESR was negatively correlatedwith DBb, InBb and TBb respectively (p=0.029, r=-0.252; p=0.003; r=- 0.362; p=0.009, r=-0.302). TBb was notcorrelated with DAS 28 (p=0.08; r=-0.203).Conclusion: We found that DBb was significantly lower in RA patients than the patients in the control group.All Bb parameters were negatively correlated with acute phase reactants and DAS28. As a practical biomarkerwith anti-oxidative properties, the DBb can be used in clinical follow-up in RA.