College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad discussed a master dissertation on the levels of some complement immune system regulators and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood serum and their possible associations with the response to rituximab treatment in Iraqi rheumatoid arthritis patients by the postgraduate student, Mr. Haider Mohammed.

The dissertation reviewed the levels of complement immune system regulators including factor, lysis-accelerating factor and CD59, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma and evaluate their possible association with the response to rituximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The dissertation concluded that the levels of all complement system regulators (factor I, TF, CD) in the serum were elevated, as well as all pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and interferon-gamma) were elevated and statistically significant in non-responders compared to responders.

The dissertation confirmed that the levels of factor I, TF, CD, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and interferon-gamma in the serum have good potential for use in assessing the response to treatment among rheumatoid arthritis patients.