Alanine Aminopeptidase, γ-Glutamyl Transferase and β2-microglobulin as Diagnostic Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Alanine Aminopeptidase, γ-Glutamyl Transferase and β2-microglobulin as Diagnostic Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis The purpose of this research is to evaluate the values of alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and β2-Microglobulin in urine (β2-M), in untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to define the effect of untreated rheumatoid arthritis on the tubular function and brush border region. We used a kinetic assay for AAP, standard methods by the IFCC for γ-glutamyl transferase and MEIA for the determination of β2-Microglobulin in urine in 70 participants (35 untreated RA patients, 35 healthy individuals). From the total of 35 RA patients, 24 patients had AAP (sensitivity of the test 68.57%), 16 patients had γ-GT enzymuria (sensitivity of the test 45.71%), while the presence of β2-Microglobulin in urine was found in a very low percentage. Out of 18 RF negative patients, 14 patients are AAP positive, 10 patients were γ-GT positive, while the presence of β2-Microglobulin in urine was not detected. Among 17 RF positive RA patients, the presence of AAP was noticed in 10, the presence of γ-GT in 6 patients, while the presence of β2-Microglobulin in urine was not detected. AAP has higher sensitivity than γ-GT and β2-Microglobulin in the detection of asymptomatic renal lesions in untreated RA.

The Diagnostic Value of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies, Adenosine Deaminase Activity and Other Potential Biomarkers for Predicting and Monitoring Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…They were all suspected to be RA positive also before giving the final RA diagnosis and no therapy was prescribed to these patients. Analysis of anti-CCP and RF seems to be very useful (28)(29)(30)(31).…”