The plasma selenium (Se) levels were determined in patients with rheum
atoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls. Plasma Se levels in 60 pati
ents were found to be significantly lower than those in 60 normal, hea
lthy controls (p <0.001). Similar significant differences were determi
ned in sex-matched comparisons between patients and controls (p <0.001
) but there was no significant difference in plasma Se levels in sex-m
atched comparisons in both groups (p >0.05). Our results suggest that
Se is an important factor in RA.