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Background & objectives: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are one of the most important agents in cartilage damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Increase of these enzymes can change sensitivity to insulin. Therefore, in this study, the MMPs level, insulin sensitivity index and effective factor related to rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated in obese female with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: In the present study, 50 obese women with rheumatoid arthritis who were referred to the Sheikh Al-Reis clinic and Sina hospital in Tabriz and 50 healthy obese individuals were considered as case group and control group respectively. After determining the body weight, the levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, insulin, leptin, visfatin, resistin and glucose were measured using ELISA and Pars -Azmoon kits. One-way ANOVA method was used for statistical analysis of data. Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between variables (p<0.05).
 
Results: in the present study, the mean level of MMP-1 (p=0.008), MMP-3 (p=0.015) and MMP-13 (p=0.001) in the case group was significantly higher than the control group. Also, Insulin- sensitivity index analysis didn’t show significant difference between the case group and the control group (p=0.21). In the case group, the level of leptin (p=0.000), resistin (p=0.000) and visfatin (p=0.024) was significantly increased compared to control group while insulin (p=0.231) and glucose (p=0.430) levels didn’t show significant increase.
Correlation results showed that there was a negative correlation between insulin and MMPs and a positive correlation with other parameters affecting insulin sensitivity.
Conclusion: our results showed, the matrix metalloproteinase level and the level of some factors affecting insulin sensitivity have increased in rheumatoid arthritis disease. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the matrix metalloproteinase and some parameters affecting insulin sensitivity, including resistin and visfatin.