Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment does not influence serum levels of the markers associated with radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the levels of change of the markers related to radiographic progression, such as Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), sclerostin (SOST), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and -4, and interleukin (IL)-17 and -23, in ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) during anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-three anti-TNF-α naïve AS patients (34 males, 19 females; median: 38 years; range, 20 to 52 years) refractory to conventional treatments meeting the modified New York criteria or Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria were enrolled to this cross-sectional, controlled study between October 2015 and January 2017. Fifty healthy volunteers (35 males, 15 females; median: 36 years; range, 18 to 55 years) with similar age and sex characteristics were recruited.

The Relationship between Plasma Pentraxin 3 and Serum Amyloid P Levels and Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Background: In clinical practice, it is hard to judge the level of disease activity in some patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have low traditional acute phase reactant values such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) but have considerable pain and inflammation. The aim of this study is to investigate plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and serum amyloid P (SAP) levels in patients with AS who had normal ESR and CRP but high disease activity.

Methods: 100 AS patients and 100 gender- and age-matched controls were included.

Are the specific and nonspecific ANA staining patterns of Behçet's Disease patients important?

Background: The autoinflammatory character of Behçet's Disease has led researchers to investigate the role of autoantibodies. However, no significant positive result has been reported for autoantibody tests for the disease.

Aims: To investigate the specific and nonspecific staining patterns of Behçet's Disease (BD) patients.

Are the Specific and Nonspecific ANA Staining Patterns of Behçet's Disease Patients Important?

Background: The autoinflammatory character of Behçet's Disease has led researchers to investigate the role of autoantibodies. However, no significant positive result has been reported for autoantibody tests for the disease.

Aims: To investigate the specific and nonspecific staining patterns of Behçet's Disease (BD) patients.