الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder thought to be autoimmune in nature that predominately affects synovial joints, but also affect any organ system. The presentation and disease course are distinct for any individual patient, making diagnosis and management a thoughtful, complex, and dynamic process.
The human adiponectin was identified as the most abundant transcript in adipose tissue. Adiponectin was discovered in 1995 by Scherer and his collagues. Adiponectin is an adipokine that regulates energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, but recent studies have pointed also to a role in inflammation and arthritis.
In contrast to its previously described protective role in vascular diseases, there is evidence that adiponectin might act as a pro-inflammatory factor in joints and it could be involved in matrix degradation. Of note, these discrepancies in the functions of adiponectin are linked to the level of oligomerization of the protein and opposite actions have been described for both low molecular weight and high molecular isoforms
Computed tomography (CT) is a tomographic radiographic imaging method offering isotropic three-dimensional visualisation of calcified tissue. CT seems to be more sensitive than MRI for detection of bone erosions, and can be considered a standard reference for detection of bone erosions in RA
Serum adiponectin levels were higher in rheumatoid arthritis group than healthy control group . Their levels were correlated with both activity and severity of rheumatoid arthritis . Three dimension CT is a sensitive method for detection of erosions .The most common site of bony erosions is the radial side of 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones . The current results suggested a pro-inflammatory and joint-destructive role of adiponectin in RA.