Soobia Karim Ansari1, Geeta Jaiswal2
INTRODUCTION
Elevated free radical generation in inflamed joints and impaired antioxidant system have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study aimed at investigating the antioxidant system in patients with untreated RA, treated RA with NSAIDs and healthy controls. 100 RA patients, 50 untreated (gp I) and 50 treated with NSAIDs (gp II) are compared with 50 healthy controls were included in the present study. Levels of antioxidants including uric acid, caeruloplasmin, vitamin C and vitamin E were measured. Significant increase in uric acid and caeruloplasmin was observed, which on treatment with NSAIDs showed significant decrease in the respective levels indicating beneficial effect of NSAIDs. Levels of vitamin C and vitamin E in RA patients were significantly lower in RA patients than those of the controls subjects, which on treatment with NSAIDs, further reduced the levels. These results suggest that proper antioxidant nutrients intake may reduce free radical generation and improve antioxidant status in RA patients.
