Vitamin D receptor initiation codon polymorphism, bone density and inflammatory activity of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a common finding in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and may contribute to spinal deformity and bone pain. Bone metabolism as well as inflammatory processes are influenced by the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR). We investigated initiation codon ( FokI) and 3'UTR ( BsmI) polymorphisms of the VDR for whether there could be an association with bone mineral density (BMD) in relation to bone metabolism or inflammatory activity in patients with AS.

Early onset and effective inhibition of bone resorption in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with the tumour necrosis factor alpha antibody infliximab.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the tumour necrosis factor alpha antibody infliximab on bone metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Twelve RA patients with active disease on a constant dose of methotrexate were treated with a single infusion of infliximab (10 mg/kg BW). Serum beta-CrossLaps and serum osteocalcin as markers of bone resorption and formation were measured two days and one day before and one and 14 days after infliximab infusion with an electrochemiluminiscence immunoassay.

Serum osteoprotegerin levels in patients after liver transplantation and correlation to bone turnover, bone mineral density and fracture status.

The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis, vertebral fracture status and possible risk factors of bone loss including serum osteoprotegerin, a novel key regulator of osteoclast proliferation and activity in the posttransplantation period. We investigated 15 patients (10 male, 5 female) 20 +/- 6 (SE) months after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). All patients received immunosuppressive therapy and non were on calcium and/or vitamin D supplements at the time of admission to our osteoporosis outpatient clinic.

Serum osteoprotegerin is a major determinant of bone density development and prevalent vertebral fracture status following cardiac transplantation.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is an antiresorptive cytokine and a key regulator of osteoclastogenesis and activity. Since OPG is downregulated by glucocorticoids and cyclosporine A in vitro we examined whether immunosuppressive therapy would play a role in the development of transplantation osteoporosis. We enrolled 57 cardiac transplant recipients (median time since transplantation, 3.

Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism are common complications in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Objective: To investigate via the vitamin D status whether patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) tend to develop vitamin D deficiency that in turn influences their clinical symptoms.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: University hospital.

N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide correlates with systolic dysfunction and left ventricular filling pattern in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To investigate the diastolic Doppler filling pattern in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and its relation to N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-ANP).

Methods: 32 patients (26 male, six female) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were investigated. All were in sinus rhythm.

Natriuretic peptides in patients with diastolic dysfunction due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: The degree of systolic dysfunction does not always correlate with functional impairment in patients with congestive heart failure. In contrast, diastolic dysfunction correlates well with functional impairment. In heart failure, both elevation of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide are markers of a poor prognosis.