Assessing the relationship of inflammatory biomarkers and depressive symptoms in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and depression are large contributors to the global years lost to disability (W.H.O, 2022). RA is mainly thought of as a disease limited to joints, where there is progressive joint destruction due to prolonged inflammation. However, RA is a systemic disease, it causes inflammation in various regions of the body. The systemic inflammation may contribute to or be associated with other commodities such as depressive symptoms. In fact, symptoms of depression are common in patients with RA, yet their relationship is poorly understood. A group of sixty patients will be assessed to understand the correlation between proinflammatory biomarkers, RA disease activity and depressive symptoms using data from blood samples and various questionnaires, respectively. It is hypothesized that an increase in proinflammatory biomarkers will be correlated with both increased depressive symptoms and worse RA disease activity. The findings of the project will inform novel interventions for the management of inflammation and commodities in patients with RA.

Faculty Supervisor:

Tom Appleton

Student:

Partner:

Harvard University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: