DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OF ANEMIA IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is chronic autoimmune disease that affected small joint in the hand and feet causing swelling that can result in bone erosion and joint deformity, anemia is the most common and serious blood abnormality seen in rheumatoid arthritis. Aim of this study was assessment of anemia in rheumatoid arthritis patients, differentiated between the types of anemia and correlation between anemia and du ration of rheumatoid arthritis. Material and method: This study was cross sectional study, carried out in Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, Sialkot during period from January 2018 until March 2018. Result: (60%) of rheumatoid arthritis are anemic and (40%) non-anemic the result demonstrated that the Hb level, RBCs and PCV are significantly reduced in anemic rheumatoid arthritis patients in comparison with non-anemic rheumatoid arthritis patients with P value (0.000) for Hb, RBCs and PCV. The result demonstrated also that MCH significantly reduced in anemic rheumatoid arthritis patients in comparison with non -anemic rheumatoid arthritis patients with P value (0.003) while MCV & MCHC are within normal range. In anemic rheumatoid arthritis patients, serum ferritin was significantly reduced in 7 while 23 patients have normal level of serum ferritin. Based on cutoff of 15μg/L for ferritin, 23% of anemic rheumatoid arthritis patients have IDA and 77% have ACD. Conclusion: There are two types of anemia in rheumatoid arthritis patients, IDA and ACD. ACD is more common in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Keywords: Iron deficiency, Rheumatoid arthritis, Anemia of chronic disorder, ferritin