University Publications

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease of unknown etiology that affects multiple systems of the human body. Symptoms of severe rheumatoid arthritis include a high level of joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Among other manifestations, abnormalities in coagulation parameters have been reported and have variously revealed accelerated metabolism of fibrinogen. Increased levels of fibrin split products in the blood and in synovial fluid, and increased blood fibrinolytic activity. Measurement of plasma D-dimer level has been shown as a useful diagnostic aid in suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in medical patients. A positive result of D-dimer can indicate thrombosis but does not rule out other potential causes.</p> <p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to assess the concentration of D-dimer level among Sudanese patients with Rheumatoid arthritis.</p> <p><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al Neelain University, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science and Military hospital (Clinic of Rheumatology) in Khartoum, Sudan, during June to Sep, 2016. Twenty-six patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were recruited in this study from both genders. A 2.5ml of trisodium citrated venous blood was collected from each patient for D-dimer immune assay by i-Chroma protocol.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study concluded that RA patients were at risk of thrombosis epically who were not under treatment and even patients were under anti-inflammatory treatment or supportive treatment. We confirmed that D-dimer was not an inflammatory marker only. D- dimer is useful to exclude the risk of thrombosis.</p>