Serum cystatin C and βeta-2 microglobulin as potential biomarkers in children with lupus nephritis.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to assess serum levels of Cystatin C (Cys C) and beta-2 microglobulin (β2M) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) patients and to investigate their role as potential biomarkers of lupus nephritis (LN) and overall disease activity.

Patients And Methods: Between December 2018 and November 2019, a total of 40 patients with JSLE (11 males, 29 females; mean age: 12.6±2.

Hypovitaminosis D in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Frequency and Consequences.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the frequency of hypovitaminosis D in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) compared to healthy controls and evaluate its association with disease activity, structural damage and Bone Mineral Density (BMD).

Methods: Serum 25(OH) D in 30 AS male patients was compared to 30 matched healthy controls. AS disease activity was assessed using AS Disease Activity Score and C - reactive protein (ASDAS- CRP).

Concomitant Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and Ankylosing Spondylitis: Relation to Clinical Features and Plasma Pentraxin -3 Level.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease that specifically affects the spine and sacroiliac joint. AS diagnosis is often delayed in the clinical practice and this delay may cause the patients to miss the chance of early treatment. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a frequently encountered clinical syndrome, fibromyalgianess is a term used when patients who are diagnosed with inflammatory arthropathies meet the criteria for FM syndrome as shown in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren syndrome, and AS.

Assessment of Endocan Serum Level in Patients with Behçet Disease: Relation to Disease Activity and Carotid Intima Media Thickness.

Behçet disease (BD) is a form of vasculopathy that can influence blood vessels of variable diameters. Endocan is a biomarker of endothelial activation and it is secreted from endothelial cells as a soluble proteoglycan. The aim of the work was to assess endocan serum level in patients with BD and to examine its relationship with disease activity parameters and carotid intima media thickness (IMT).

Serum Soluble CD163 and its association with various disease parameters in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163) is a receptor that binds haptoglobin-hemoglobin complexes and is mainly expressed on macrophages and monocytes. As a result of shedding, the extracellular portion of CD163 circulates in the blood as a soluble CD163 (sCD163). This study aimed to measure serum sCD163 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to assess its association with the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of the disease.

Interleukin-18 gene polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus: relation to disease status.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by loss of self-tolerance causing immune-mediated tissue destruction and various clinical presentations Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders. This study investigates polymorphisms of the IL-18 gene in SLE patients at positions -607 and -137 of the promoter to elucidate their possible roles in the activity and severity of this disease. Fifty SLE patients and fifty unrelated healthy control group were included.