Correlation of morning stiffness and acute phase reactants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [Romatoid Artritli Hastalarda Sabah Tutuklu?u ile Akut Faz Reaktanlarinin Korelasyonu]

Abstract

Morning stiffness which takes part in the classification criteria of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a relatively subjective parameter than others. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of morning stiffness that was expressed by patients with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels which were objective parameters in reflecting the severity of the disease. Seventy patients with RA were included in the study. While a total of 328 blood samples were taken for the evaluation of ESR and CRP, duration of morning stiffness was recorded. There was a strong and positive correlation between morning stiffness and these two laboratory parameters. This correlation was stronger in CRP than ESR. In conclusion we thought that the morning stiffness, which can be considered as a subjective, parameter due to solely depending on the patient's expression, reflects severity of the disease, at least in the framework of the present study.