Al-Kunooze Scientific Journal

Obesity, C-Reactive Protein, and Calprotectin in Adalimumab-Treated Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Association with Clinical Response: A cross-sectional comparative study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ghasaq Kareem Abed 1
Asma Abdul Jaleel Swadi 1
Zahraa Hussam ALzubaidi 2

1 College of Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah/ Iraq

2 Al-Hamzah General Hospital, Al-Qadisiyah Health Directorate, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq

https://doi.org/10.36582/ksj.2026.171634.1056
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-lasting inflammatory illness considered via synovial inflammation as well as joint destruction. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 are key mediators. Adalimumab is operative; a percentage of patients show inadequate response. C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are generally run down inflammatory markers, but limited ability to predict treatment response. Calprotectin has been projected as a biomarker of illness activity. To assess serum CRP and calprotectin ranks in RA patients cured with adalimumab and to evaluate their connotation with BMI and medical response. A cross-sectional comparative study included 130 participants: 75 RA patients receiving adalimumab and 55 controls. Patients included 25 males and 50 females; mean age 47.57 ±10.68 (responders n = 35) and 46.40 ±8.76 (non-responders n = 40), categorized rendering to European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology principles, using Disease Activity Score28 with Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CRP and calprotectin were restrained using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. RA patients showed higher CRP and calprotectin ranks paralleled to controls (p < 0.001). Calprotectin did not diverge among responders and non-responders, while CRP was higher in non-responders (p < 0.001). BMI was positively associated with calprotectin (r = 0.746) and CRP (r = 0.655) (p < 0.001). CRP and calprotectin are elevated in RA patients treated with adalimumab; Only CRP is associated with treatment response. Calprotectin reflects inflammatory burden, while obesity is related with augmented inflammatory indicators and may negatively influence outcomes.

Keywords

Rheumatoid arthritis
Obesity
Calprotectin
CRP
Adalimumab
Subjects
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Al-Kunooze Scientific Journal
Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 214-225

  • Receive Date 08 May 2026
  • Revise Date 26 May 2026
  • Accept Date 30 May 2026
  • First Publish Date 01 July 2026
  • Publish Date 01 July 2026

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