The role of smoking in the development and progression of structural damage in axial SpA patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether smoking was associated with the cumulative radiographic spinal damage and radiographic progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available studies to date.

Methods: An electronic search was conducted from inception to June 21, 2016, in EMBASE, the MEDLINE/PubMed Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases.

Efficacy and safety of eculizumab in adult patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: A single center experience from Turkey.

Introduction: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy, which develops as a result of defective activity of the alternative complement pathway and excessive complement activation due to genetic or acquired factors. No satisfactory responses were obtained by plasmapheresis, corticosteroids and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion. However, promising results are obtained in recent years by eculuzimab treatment, which inhibits C5 activation.