Endothelial dysfunction in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and enhanced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. The mechanisms and mediators of this phenomenon have not been fully explained, but an expanding body of evidence demonstrates that increased cardiovascular risk in AS is heralded by endothelial dysfunction. We performed a literature review using the PubMed database from the year 2006 up to 2018.

Vitamin D serum concentration is not related to the activity of spondyloarthritis - preliminary study.

Objective: Vitamin D plays an important role in mineral turnover and bone remodeling and there are increasing data about its immunomodulatory potential in different rheumatologic disorders. Deficiency of vitamin D is frequent in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and some data suggest its association with increased disease activity and structural damage. However, its exact role in the pathogenesis of SpA and its association with disease activity are still a matter of debate.

Results from Polish Spondyloarthritis Initiative registry (PolSPI) - methodology and data from - the first year of observation.

Objectives: Report on one-year results from the Polish Spondyloarthritis Initiative registry (PolSPI), containing the cross-sectional analysis of clinical and imaging data as well as database methodology.

Material And Methods: The PolSPI registry includes patients with axial (axSpA) and peripheral (perSpA) spondyloarthritis according to ASAS classification criteria, and/or patients with ankylosing spondylitis according to modified New York criteria, psoriatic arthritis according to CASPAR criteria, arthropathy in inflammatory bowel disease, reactive arthritis, juvenile spondyloarthritis or undifferentiated spondyloarthritis. Epidemiologic data and history of signs, symptoms and treatment of spondyloarthritis are collected and assessment of disease activity is performed.

Alterations in skin microvascular function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between systemic inflammation and skin microcirculation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: We assessed skin microcirculation flux (laser Doppler flowmetry), classical cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers and disease activity (Disease Activity Score 28, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) in 75 patients with arthritis with a median disease duration of 4 years, and in 26 healthy subjects.

Results: In patients with arthritis inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, fibrinogen) were increased, peak flux velocity after the occlusion at the temperature of 36.

Blood monocyte subsets and selected cardiovascular risk markers in rheumatoid arthritis of short duration in relation to disease activity.

Objectives: To evaluate blood monocyte subsets and functional monocyte properties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of short duration in the context of cardiovascular (CV) risk and disease activity.

Methods: We studied conventional markers of CV risk, intima media thickness (IMT), and blood monocyte subsets in 27 patients aged 41 ± 10 years with RA of short duration (median 12 months) and 22 healthy controls. The RA subjects were divided into low (DAS28: 2.

Differential associations of inflammatory and endothelial biomarkers with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis of short duration.

Objectives: To estimate endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of short duration in relation to disease activity based on the assessment of 28 joints (DAS28).

Methods: We studied 29 patients (22 women, mean age 41 (SD, 9) years) with RA of short duration and 29 healthy controls. The RA subjects were divided into those with low (DAS28: 2.

Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine in active rheumatoid arthritis: links with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Introduction:  Endothelial dysfunction and accumulation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) have been identified as independent predictors of future cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objectives:  The aim of the study was to investigate the factors that determine increased accumulation of ADMA, an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients And Methods:  We studied 46 consecutive patients with RA (39 women, 7 men; mean age, 57 years [range, 23-75 years]) with active disease (mean Disease Activity Score 28 [DAS28], 5.

Thrombin generation in rheumatoid arthritis: dependence on plasma factor composition.

Growing evidence indicates that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk for thromboembolic cardiovascular events. We investigated thrombin generation profiles in RA patients and their dependence on plasma factor/inhibitor composition. Plasma factor (F) compositions (II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X), antithrombin and free tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) from 46 consecutive RA patients with no cardiovascular events (39 female, 7 male, aged 57 [range, 23-75] years; DAS28 [Disease Activity Score] 5.

Unfavorably altered fibrin clot properties in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Altered fibrin clot properties have been reported in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and inflammatory states. Given increased prevalence of CVD in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated whether fibrin characteristics are also altered in RA patients.

Patients And Methods: We studied 46 consecutive RA patients versus 50 controls matched for age and gender.

Oxidative modification of type II collagen differentially affects its arthritogenic and tolerogenic capacity in experimental arthritis.

Introduction: Oxidative modification of proteins affects their biological properties. Previously we have shown that hypochlorite (HOCl), the product of activated neutrophils, enhances protein immunogenecity. Collagen type II, a primary component of cartilage, is commonly used in the induction of arthritis in animals (CIA).