Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (stromelysin 1) for monitoring synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Context: Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) is expressed in synovial tissues and involved in cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Objective: To study whether measurement of MMP-3 serum concentrations is useful to monitor the activity of rheumatoid synovitis.

Design: Levels of MMP-3 in serum and synovial tissue samples obtained from 29 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 20 osteoarthritis patients were measured by the 1-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay system.