| Summary: | Objectives: To evaluate the clinical value of two new cartilageserum markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of longduration. Methods: One hundred and forty patients followed for anaverage period of twelve years were evaluated for the presence ofhuman cartilage glycoprotein-39 and cartilage serum oligomericmatrix protein and the respective coefficient correlation betweenmarkers and disease activity score. Results: The mean values ofcartilage serum oligomeric matrix protein and human cartilageglycoprotein-39 were respectively 9 ± 6 ug/ml and 36 ± 16 mg/ml (p > 0,001) when compared to controls. A positive correlationwas observed between disease activity score and the cartilagebiomarkers (r = 0,67 for human cartilage glycoprotein-39 and r =0,83 for cartilage serum oligomeric matrix protein. Conclusion:This study shows in a inequivocal form that patientswith rheumatoid arthritis of long duration show higher values ofserum biochemical markers of cartilage metabolism and a positivecorrelation with disease activity score.
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