Fig. 5.

Serum concentration ratios of MMPs to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1). MMP-1:TIMP-1 ratios (a). MMP-3:TIMP-1 ratios (b). MMP-9:TIMP-1 ratios (c). Serum concentrations of metalloproteinases and TIMP-1 in RA patients were assessed by ELISA technique. Patients were treated with rituximab (1,000 mg) on weeks 0, 2, 24 and 26. Blood samples were obtained on weeks 0, 2, 24 prior to infusion of rituximab, and on weeks 12, 36 and 52. Significance of differences between pre-infusion serum concentration ratios of MMPs to TIMP-1 values on week 0 and following weeks was expressed as: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Significance of differences between pre-infusion serum concentration ratios of MMPs to TIMP-1 values on week 2 and following weeks was expressed as: ^# p < 0.05