YKL-40 Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Their Correlation with Disease Activity: A Meta-analysis
10.4078/jrd.2019.26.4.257
- Author:
Young Ho LEE
1
;
Gwan Gyu SONG
Author Information
1. Department of Rheumatology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. lyhcgh@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Meta-Analysis
- Keywords:
YKL-40;
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Activity
- MeSH:
Arabs;
Arthritis, Rheumatoid;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Blood Sedimentation;
C-Reactive Protein;
Humans;
Rheumatoid Factor;
Sample Size
- From:Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
2019;26(4):257-263
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of serum/plasma YKL-40 levels with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their correlation with RA activity and rheumatoid factor (RF) level. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis comparing the serum/plasma YKL-40 levels between patients with RA and controls and examined the correlation coefficients of the circulating YKL-40 level with the RF level and RA activity based on the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. RESULTS: Nine studies (707 patients with RA and 1,041 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. The YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in the RA group than in the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD]=1.071, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.726~1.417, p<0.001). Stratification by ethnicity showed significantly elevated YKL-40 levels in the RA groups from European, Asian, North American, and Arab populations. The YKL-40 level was significantly higher in the RA group than in the control group in both age- and sex-matched and only age-matched populations (SMD=0.937, 95% CI=0.554~1.320, p<0.001; SMD=2.951, 95% CI=1.389~4.512, p<0.001, respectively). Subgroup analysis by sample size showed significantly increased YKL-40 levels in the RA group in both small (n<100) and large (n>100) populations. Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients showed a significant positive correlation between the YKL-40 levels and DAS28, ESR, CRP level, and RF level (DAS28: correlation coefficient=0.381, 95% CI=0.044~0.640, p=0.028; RF level: correlation coefficient=0.341, 95% CI=0.176~0.487, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The circulating YKL-40 levels are high in patients with RA and positively correlate with RA activity and RF level.
