Elevated Serum Levels of Soluble Transferrin Receptor Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Hematological Manifestations and a Decreased Risk of Neuropsychiatric Manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the serum levels of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and interleukin 4 (IL-4), and the disease activity and organ manifestations in SLE patients. We studied 200 SLE patients and 50 controls. We analyzed disease activity, organ involvement, serum sTfR, IL-4 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibody profiles.

Increased Serum Interleukin 10 Levels Are Associated with Increased Disease Activity and Increased Risk of Anti-SS-A/Ro Antibody Positivity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Unlabelled: Interleukin 10 (IL-10) plays a role in inflammation and cell-type responses. The anti-SS-A/Ro antibody contributes to leucopenia, and cutaneous and neonatal lupus.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between serum IL-10 levels and autoantibodies, disease activity and organ involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Anti-Phosphatidylethanolamine and Anti-Phosphatidylserine Antibodies-Association with Renal Involvement, Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Manifestations, Raynaud Phenomenon and Disease Activity in Polish Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To evaluate the association between anti-phosphatidylethanolamine (aPE) and anti-phosphatidylserine (aPS) antibodies and cardiovascular risk, organ involvement and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: We studied 93 SLE patients and 30 controls. We analyzed levels of anti-phospholipid antibodies, including aPS and aPE, the profiles of antinuclear, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA) and anti-endothelial antibodies, carotid intima-media thickness (cITM) and atherosclerotic plaque presence, ankle-brachial and high resistance indices, atherosclerotic risk factors, organ manifestations and treatment.

SAPHO syndrome: pathogenesis, clinical presentation, imaging, comorbidities and treatment: a review.

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a constellation of dermatological and osteoarticular symptoms. The pathogenesis of SAPHO is unknown, but infectious, genetic, immunological and environmental factors may play a role. SAPHO is classified along two different spectrums: pustulo-psoriatic hyperostotic spondyloarthritis and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis.

Axial spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease: association between disease activity and endothelial dysfunction markers.

Objective: We aimed to assess patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for disease activity and serum markers of endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: We studied 161 patients (123 males, 38 females) with axSpA: 153 with ankylosing spondylitis and 8 with non-radiographic axSpA, and 30 healthy controls (HC). We collected: age; sex; disease duration; extra-articular symptoms (IBD and acute anterior uveitis), comorbidities; human leukocyte antigen B27 status; and treatment.

An expert opinion of the Polish Cardiac Society Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and the Polish Society for Rheumatology on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with connective tissue disease.

Systemic connective tissue diseases (CTDs) comprise a large group of diseases that are auto-immune in nature and characterized by the involvement of multiple systems and organs. Pul-monary hypertension (PH) of various etiologies may develop in the course of CTD, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), PH secondary to the lung disease, postcapillary PH in the course of left heart disease, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). In addition, the different forms of PH may coexist with each other.

Serum interleukin-23 protects, whereas methotrexate treatment stimulates selected components of the metabolic syndrome in patients with SAPHO syndrome.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of disease activity, selected serum cytokines, and therapy on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in patients with synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome.

Material And Methods: We studied 46 SAPHO patients (40 women, 6 men). We recorded age, sex, disease duration, arthritis localization, type of skin changes, bone scintigraphy results, comorbidities, BASDAI, VAS, and treatment.

Serum Interleukin-23 in Polish Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association with Lupus Nephritis, Obesity, and Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Objectives: To analyze the correlation between the serum concentration of interleukin- (IL-) 23 and atherosclerotic changes, traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, the autoantibody profile, and involvement of selected organs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Patients And Methods: We studied 94 SLE patients and 27 controls. We analyzed the IL-23 serum concentration, autoantibodies, carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaque, the ankle-brachial index, atherosclerotic risk factors, and organ manifestations.

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.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome with Antiβ2glicoprotein-1 Antibodies as the Cause of Recurrent Tibial Vein Thrombosis in SAPHO syndrome.

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is defined by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with recurrent venous or arterial thromboembolism (1). SAPHO syndrome is a rare disease, characterized by specific clinical manifestations of synovitis, acne pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis. It is a disease that manifests with a combination of osseous and articular manifestations associated with skin lesions (2).

Extra-Articular Symptoms in Constellation with Selected Serum Cytokines and Disease Activity in Spondyloarthritis.

In this study, we assessed the extra-articular symptoms in constellation with selected serum cytokines and disease activity in spondyloarthritis (SpA). We studied 287 SpA patients: 131 had AS, 110 had PsA, and 46 had SAPHO. We assessed extra-articular symptoms in all cases.

Serum Interleukin-18, Fetuin-A, Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, and Endothelin-1 in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and SAPHO Syndrome.

To examine serum interleukin 18 (IL-18), fetuin-A, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and Synovitis Acne Pustulosis Hyperostosis Osteitis syndrome (SAPHO). We studied 81 AS, 76 PsA, and 34 SAPHO patients. We measured serum IL-18, fetuin-A, sICAM-1, ET-1, IL-6, IL-23, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Serum IL-6 and IL-23 Levels and Their Correlation with Angiogenic Cytokines and Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and SAPHO Syndrome.

Objectives: To assess serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) and their correlation with angiogenic cytokines and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and SAPHO syndrome.

Patients And Methods: We studied 152 spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients: 69 PsA, 61 AS, 22 SAPHO, and 29 controls. We recorded age, sex, disease duration, and treatment.

Serum levels of angiogenic cytokines in psoriatic arthritis and SAPHO syndrome.

Introduction: Angiogenesis is involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of selected angiogenic cytokines and their association with clinical presentation in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and SAPHO syndrome.

Patients And Methods: We studied 98 patients: 80 with PsA and 18 with SAPHO syndrome.

Bone tissue metabolism in men with ankylosing spondylitis.

Purpose: The aim of the study was the composite estimation of bone tissue metabolism in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) after having taken into account such factors as a high risk of incidence of osteoporosis in patients with AS and potential danger of permanent immobility.

Material And Methods: Sixty-six patients with established diagnosis of AS and 63 healthy individuals in the control group were included into the study. To measure bone mineral density (BMD) the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method was used.

[Addison's disease imitating fibromyalgia].

We present the case of a 33-year-old female with generalized pain in the musculoskeletal system, fatigue, and many other symptoms. She was initially diagnosed with fibromyalgia but other tests finally confirmed Addison's disease. Supplementation with adrenal hormones resulted in total remission of pain and of other symptoms.

[Cardiovascular manifestations of seronegative inflammatory spondyloarthropathies].

Cardiovascular manifestations of seronegative spondyloarthropathies represent an important clinical problem which has not been fully elucidated. Clinically significant cardiovascular symptoms are present in 10% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), usually in the case of long-standing disease. The following echocardiographic abnormalities have been reported in AS: ascending aortitis, aortic insufficiency (1-34%), mitral insufficiency (1-76%), mitral valve prolapse (5.

[Adverse effects of cyclosporin a observed in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis].

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PA) represent diseases which often demand aggressive therapy in order to control the process and inhibit lesion formation in joints and organs. This kind of therapy can be achieved with cyclosporin A (CsA), particularly when combined with methotrexate (MTX). This combination is far more effective than single-drug therapy and is capable of significantly reducing the number of articular lesions.

[SAPHO syndrome--clinical features].

Objective: Presentation of clinical features of the SAPHO syndrome.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients (15 women and 2 men) with confirmed diagnosis of the SAPHO syndrome was presented. The culture of biopsy of pustulotic skin lesions was performed in 11 patients.

[The value of researches, which assess bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, in detecting osteoporosis].

Introduction: Purpose of the study was: 1) to assess the best localization and the method for diagnosis of osteoporosis; 2) to assess risk factors of osteoporosis; 3) to assess risk factors of spinal fractures due to osteoporosis; 4) assessment of bone metabolism.

Material And Methods: The study consisted of 46 male patients with confirmed diagnosis of ankylosisng spondylitis (AS) aged 23-68 years. All patients underwent the following assessment: lateral x-ray of spine, bone mineral density (BMD) assessment of lumbar spine, femoral neck and radius by DEXA method and bone mineral density assessment of radius by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) method.

[Ear involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis].

Clinical manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis could be multiorgan. Authors present the review of literature concerning on inflammatory changes in ears that in consequence could lead to hearing impairment or deafness.