Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a relatively common inflammatory disease generally affecting the joints. This study aimed to assess the levels of various serum tumors markers; carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 125, CA 19.9 and CA15.3 in patients with a known diagnosis of RA.

METHODS

A total of 148 patients who were being followed in the rheumatology clinic of a tertiary academic center with a diagnosis of RA and 36 controls were included in the study group. Measurement of rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), anti CCP and serum tumor markers including CEA, CA 19.9, CA 125, CA 15.3 were made from the blood samples obtained from the participants. Disease activity score at the time of study entry was also evaluated by the attending rheumatologist.

RESULTS

Serum levels of CEA, CA19.9, CA 125 and CA 15.3 were found to be significantly higher in RA patients compared to controls. This difference was statistically significant in both patient groups with active and inactive disease compared to the control group. However a correlation between tumor markers and disease activity score was not found. Among tumor markers only serum CEA levels were found to be associated with RF levels (r 0.165, p >0.049)

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Serum tumor markers are frequently elevated in patients with RA and caring physicians should be aware of this phenomenon to avoid the use of unnecessary evaluative procedures for searching presence of malignancy in these group of patients.