| Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder, occurs when there are attacks of the immune system on body's tissues especially the joint,causing a painful, swelling, that finally results in bone deformity, increased free radical level in defect joint and reduce the level of the antioxidant system can cause tissue damage. Autoimmune phenomena and damage of connective tissue within the synovial joint can be resulted from oxidative stress formed within inflamed joint. Radical species that possess oxidative activity, which include reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), mediate and cause cartilage damage. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive inflammatory autoimmune disorder characterized by symmetric erosive synovitis and sometimes with multi-system involvement. But the exact mechanism of the disease is not fully understood. In the light of above explanation, the present study measured the plasma levels of Total Antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured to establish plasma oxidant/antioxidant status in the patient and control groups. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with RA and 30 control subjects.The study raise the concept that oxidative stress as evidenced by increased MDA, and decreased TAC may play a key role in the pathogenesis of RA. The study also indicated a strong relationship between oxidative stress and rheumatoid arthritisddd |
