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Background: There are citrullin peptides in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients that are changed by Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase enzymes (encoded by PADI genes). An association between RA and PADI-4 haplotypes has been reported by researchers. The aim of this study is evaluation of PADI-4 Gene polymorphism in patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis referring. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional study we extracted the genomic DNAs from the whole blood samples of 50 patients with RA ( on the basis of ACR criteria) referring to Emam Reza hospital in Mashhad and a control group involving 50 healthy khorrasanian participants. DNA genom was extracted with nonenzymatic salting out method. Genotypes were determined by PCR simple sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). Data were analyzed with Chi-Square and Fisherexact Test. Results: 58% of the patients had genotypes of 1and 2 38%: 1,4, 2%: 1b,2 ,and 2%: 2,4 .In the control group, 72% had genotype 1,2 22%: 1 and 4, 6%: 1b,2 while none of them had genotype 2,4. Conclusion: There was not any significant relationship between the presence of different PADI-4 genotypes and RA in Khorrasanian population

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Background: Programmed death 1 (PDCD1), a negative T-cell regulator which induces peripheral tolerance, belongs to Ig super and CD28/CTLA-4 families. PD-1 gene induces negative signals in T-cells during interaction with its ligands. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PD-1 polymorphism and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Iranian patients and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples using DNA purification kit (DNG-plus, Cinnagen, Iran). PD1.1G/A as a SNP located on promoter with position -536 were genotyped for 120 RA patients and 188 healthy controls through PCR-RFLP method. Association of genotypes and alleles frequency in the patients was compared with controls and analyzed using Chi-square test and 2×2 contingency table in SPSS software version 15.0. The diagnosis of RA patients and provision of their clinical information was done in Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Results: The A allele of the PD1.1 polymorphism located on the promoter of PD-1 gene was significantly more frequent in Iranian RA patients than the controls (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in PD1.1G/G genotype (p=0.08), PD1.1A/A genotype (p=0.39), and PD1.1G/A genotype (p=0.16) between RA cases and controls. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the presence of a significant relationship between the A allele of the PD1.1 (-536) of the promoter and susceptibility to RA in Iranian patients.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory arthritis. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, scleritis, and episcleritis are ocular complications of this disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate Sjogren’s syndrome in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ninety patients diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis that followed up in rheumatology clinic of Rasool Akram hospital for six months and no definite cause was found for their dry eye, enrolled in the study. Rheumatoid arthritis activity was evaluated by DAS28 index and the severity of dry eye was assessed by Japanese dry eye diagnostic criteria.

Results: Mean activity of disease according to DAS28 was 2.9±1.56 and 88.9% of patients had dry eye based on Japanese dry eye diagnostic criteria. Twelve patients (13.3%) had secondary Sjogren's syndrome. SSA antibody was positive in 13.3% patients and 10% patients had positive SSB antibody. There was significant correlation between rheumatoid arthritis activity based on DAS28 and severity of dry eye according to Japanese dry eye diagnostic criteria in the both Sjogren (p=0.045) and non Sjogren groups (p=0.001).

Conclusion: We found significant correlation between rheumatoid arthritis activity and dry eye in the both sjogren and non-Sjogren groups. Most of rheumatoid arthritis subjects do not have Sjogren’s syndrome but dry eye is common even in rheumatoid arthritis patients without Sjogren's syndrome.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Hypertension could occur as a result of chronic inflammation in RA patients. Some evidence demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid in inflammatory diseases. However, a limited number of studies have evaluated the effects of alpha-lipoic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on blood pressure and some inflammatory factors.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which 70 female patients aged 20–50 years were randomized to two groups to receive either alpha-lipoic acid (1200 mg/day) or placebo. The intervention duration was 8 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and after the supplementation period. Also, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS13 software.

Results: 65 RA patients completed the trial. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in alpha-lipoic acid group was significantly decreased in comparison with placebo group (p<0.05). But, CRP and IL-6 serum levels did not indicate any significant within- and between group changes.

Conclusion: In the present study, alpha-lipoic acid supplementation resulted in significant blood pressure reduction in rheumatoid arthritis participants.