The effect of disease activity related cytokines on the fibrinolytic potential and cICAM-1 expression in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: We studied the relation of pro and antiinflammatory cytokines to disease activity, coagulation, and fibrinolytic variables as well as to circulating intercellular adhesive molecule- 1 (cICAM-1), so as to better understand the cascade of events implicated in the inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, cICAM-1, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor- 1 (PAI-1), and D-dimer antigens were measured by ELISA in the blood of 45 RA patients and 33 healthy subjects (HS). The Stoke Index was used to describe the disease activity in patients, who were divided into subgroups: A: minimal-mild disease activity (n = 23, Stoke Index = 1-7); B: moderate disease activity (n = 12, Stoke Index = 8-11); C: severe disease activity (n = 9, Stoke Index = 12-17).