Publications by authors named "Gulsen Ozen"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using opioids compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Results showed that while the MACE risk was similar between both groups, patients using opioids had a 33% higher all-cause mortality rate than those using NSAIDs.
- The findings suggest that opioids are not necessarily safer than NSAIDs for RA patients, and they may have an increased risk of serious outcomes like venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Objective: To describe levels of physical activity (PA) in older adults with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and study the association between PA level and patient-reported outcomes.
Methods: Using data from FORWARD, a cross-sectional analysis was performed among adults aged 65 years and older with RMDs to assess the levels of PA. PA was categorized as high (vigorously active for at least 30 minutes, 3 times per week), moderate (moderately active for at least 3 times per week) or low (seldom active).
Vitamin D levels in patients with small and medium vessel vasculitis.
Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed)
March 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with small and medium vessel systemic vasculitis compared to healthy individuals and rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- It found that 75.4% of vasculitis patients had vitamin D insufficiency and 50% had deficiency, significantly higher than the 33.7% and 21.8% seen in healthy subjects, respectively.
- The results also indicated that renal involvement in vasculitis patients is linked to vitamin D deficiency, and the overall vitamin D levels were similar between patients with vasculitis and those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Objective: To assess the effect of statin use on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), all-cause mortality, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: We identified a cohort of patients with RA between 1989 and 2018, within the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. We employed a prevalent new-user cohort design by which patients initiating statins were each matched to 2 concurrent nonusers by the time-conditional propensity score (TCPS).
Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an increasing concern in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with little known about risk factors. We aimed to compare risk factors for unprovoked VTE and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients with RA and to assess subsequent ASCVD risk after an unprovoked VTE.
Methods: People with RA participating in a US-wide longitudinal observational registry from 1998 to 2018 were assessed for incident unprovoked VTE (deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary emboli not associated with cancer, recent surgery, hospitalisation, fracture and pregnancy) and ASCVD (myocardial infarction and stroke) validated from hospital/death records.
Vitamin D Levels in Patients With Small and Medium Vessel Vasculitis.
Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed)
January 2021
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with small and medium vessel systemic vasculitis.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D3 levels were measured in adult patients with systemic small and medium vessel vasculitis including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CryV), IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as control groups. 25OH vitamin D3 levels<30ng/ml and <20ng/ml were regarded as insufficiency and deficiency, respectively.
Objective: To examine the comparative effects of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) and tofacitinib against conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: RA patients with ≥ 1 year of participation in the FORWARD study, from 1998 through 2017, were assessed for incident composite CVD events (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and CVD-related death validated from hospital/death records). DMARD were categorized into 7 mutually exclusive groups: (1) csDMARD-referent; (2) tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi); (3) abatacept (ABA); (4) rituximab; (5) tocilizumab; (6) anakinra; and (7) tofacitinib.
Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the risk of serious infections (SIs) associated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) compared with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: We studied patients with RA who initiated bDMARDs or csDMARDs from 2001 to 2016 in FORWARD-The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were categorized into three groups: (1) csDMARDs (bDMARD-naïve; reference), (2) tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFis), and (3) non-TNFi biologics (abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, and anakinra).
Objectives: To identify serious infection (SI) risk by aetiology and site in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with those with non-inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (NIRMD).
Methods: Patients participating in FORWARD from 2001 to 2016 were assessed for SIs; defined by infections requiring hospitalisation, intravenous antibiotics or followed by death. SIs were categorised by aetiology and site.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the risks of cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with abatacept compared to other biologic and conventional DMARDs using a US-wide patient database.
- Results showed that while there was no significant increase in cancer risk with abatacept compared to other treatments, it was associated with a lower risk of hospitalized infections.
- Additionally, the incidence of severe infusion reactions was lower for patients receiving abatacept compared to those on other biologic DMARDs.
Context: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promote oxidative stress and inflammation by altering structure and function of proteins. They are excessively produced mainly in hyperglycemia, chronic inflammation and are involved in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether skin AGEs levels were increased and had relation to premature atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate fracture risks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using various medications, including DMARDs, statins, and opioids, over a period from 2001 to 2017.
- Researchers analyzed data from a large cohort of 11,412 RA patients to assess fractures related to osteoporosis and found significant increases in fracture risk associated with glucocorticoids, opioids, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- Conversely, the use of statins and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) was linked to a reduced risk of vertebral fractures, while other medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) showed no significant association with fracture risk.
: To describe posterior segment findings of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and compare them with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).: A total of 11 patients with primary APS, 29 secondary APS patients, and 29 SLE patients without APS were included. All patients were referred from rheumatology clinic for detailed ophthalmologic examination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Systemic sclerosis can affect peripheral nerves, but the extent and the nature of this involvement are not well defined. The aim of this study is to compare the sonoelastrographic measurements of median nerves in systemic sclerosis (SSC), idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and healthy individuals.
Methods: The clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic assessments were done.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate how osteoporosis (OP) care has been provided to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over the past decade, comparing it to those with osteoarthritis (OA).
- About 67.4% of RA patients and 64.6% of OA patients underwent osteoporosis screening during a median follow-up of 5.5 years, but approximately half of those who needed treatment based on guidelines did not receive OP medication.
- There has been a declining trend in OP care for both RA and OA patients since 2008, with factors like older age, postmenopausal status, and prior fractures being linked to better OP treatment among RA patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the link between oral ulcer activity and medication adherence in 330 patients with Behçet's disease, focusing on gender differences.
- Results showed that 66.4% of patients had active oral ulcers, with women exhibiting more ulcers if they had low medication adherence, unlike male patients where no significant link was found.
- The findings suggest that low medication adherence is a critical factor in managing Behçet's disease, especially for female patients experiencing more severe oral ulcer activity.
Objectives: Interleukin-17 (IL-17) has been associated with the pathogenesis of various autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Th17-related immunity in an innate immunity-dominated vasculitis, namely Behcet's disease (BD).
Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 37 patients (age: 38.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the radiographic severity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), which varies among patients.
- Researchers genotyped four SNPs in 235 AS patients, classifying them into mild and severe categories based on modified Stoke AS spinal scores (mSASSS).
- The findings revealed that there was no significant association between the SNPs studied and the radiographic severity of AS, even after accounting for various clinical differences among the patients.
Objective: To investigate the rate of incident diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the impact of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and statin treatments.
Methods: We studied patients with RA and ≥1 year participation in the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases without baseline DM from 2000 through 2014. DM was determined by self-report or initiating DM medication.
Article Synopsis
- Behcet's disease (BD) is a complex inflammatory condition that can involve various systems, leading to severe complications like neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD), affecting neurological function.
- A 29-year-old male patient with rapid progression of NBD was treated with a combination of aggressive immunosuppressive therapies after he presented with significant neurological symptoms and relapses, including paralysis and difficulty speaking.
- Despite initial improvements following treatment, the patient developed pulmonary tuberculosis, highlighting the critical need for careful management of immunosuppressive therapies in patients with NBD to prevent serious complications.
Objectives: Fatigue is a common symptom of chronic inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate fatigue in patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS) and to examine the relationship between fatigue and disease activity, quality of life, anxiety and depression.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 123 BS patients and 71 healthy controls in Turkey.