Relationship Between the Bee Venom Therapy and Tumor Necrosis Factor-308 Variation in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis, a Prospective Study

Authors

E. A. Mashhoor, Department of Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, EgyptFollow
A. A. Abd El-Aziz, Department of Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, EgyptFollow
A. M. Metwaly, Department of Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, EgyptFollow
E. S. Mohammed, Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptFollow
S. M. EL-Sherbini, Department of Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, EgyptFollow

Abstract

Bee venom (BV) was traditionally used to treat various inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study aims to assess the anti-arthritic effect of BV and the relation between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-308 polymorphism and BV treatment response in RA. Methods: 50 RA patients received BV injection for 6 months, with an evaluation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), visual analog scale (VAS), disease activity score (DAS28-ESR), TNF-α, at baseline and after 6ms. Genotyping assay for TNF-α G308A rs1800629 gene polymorphism. Results: The mean age was 36.0 (29.0 -40.0) years; 90% were females and 10% were males with a mean disease duration 8 (5-10 years). Most of the studied patients (64%) had high disease activity and 37% had moderate disease activity with a mean 5.5 (4.7 -6.8) at baseline. Treatment with BV was associated with a significant improvement in ESR, CRP, VAS, and significant decline in the DAS28-ESR score with p-value <0.005. Most of cases achieved moderate and good EULAR response and a significant reduction of (TNFα) Level. TNF-α-308 genetic variant showed that the GG genotype (32 patients, 64 %) was more prevalent followed by AA genotypes (14 patients, 28 %). There was no difference between TNF-α G308 genotypes regarding the post-treatment response. Conclusion: Treatment with Bee venom can improve joint pain, disease activity, reduce ESR, CRP, and TNFα levels in RA patients. No difference between TNF-α G308 genotypes regarding treatment response.

Recommended Citation

A. Mashhoor, E.; A. Abd El-Aziz, A.; M. Metwaly, A.; S. Mohammed, E.; and M. EL-Sherbini, S. (2023) "Relationship Between the Bee Venom Therapy and Tumor Necrosis Factor-308 Variation in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis, a Prospective Study," Information Sciences Letters: Vol. 12 : Iss. 6 , PP -.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/isl/vol12/iss6/41