Relationship of serum copper and HLADR4 tissue typing to disease activity and severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disabling disease associated with high burden on individuals and national health system. Early detection of rheumatoid arthritis is helpful in management and preventing further complications. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between each of serum copper and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR tissue typing with the activity and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: This study was an observational prospective cross sectional study implemented in the Rzgary general teaching hospital in Erbil governorate-Iraq from November 1, 2019, to October 31, 2020. Study sample included fifty rheumatoid arthritis patients. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was done according to 2010-American College of Rheumatology-European League against Rheumatism criteria. The serum copper and HLA-DR4 typing were assessed in regard to activity and severity of rheumatoid arthritis patients. RESULTS: This study found that high serum copper level was directly related to both active and severe rheumatoid arthritis disease (p < 0.001). Additionally, this study revealed that positive HLADR4 typing was related to severe rheumatoid arthritis disease (p < 0.001). This study revealed no significant relationship between rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity with HLADR4 subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: The serum copper level and HLA-DR typing of patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be useful in prediction of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity and severity.