Sex-specific impact of inflammation on traditional cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in axial spondyloarthritis. A multicentre study of 913 patients.

Introduction: The nature of the relationship between inflammation, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and atherosclerosis in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) remains largely unknown and sex differences in this regard are yet to be assessed.

Methods: Study including 611 men and 302 women from the Spanish multicentre AtheSpAin cohort to assess CV disease in axSpA. Data on CV disease risk factors were collected both at disease diagnosis and at enrolment, and data on disease activity, functional indices and carotid ultrasonography only at enrolment.

E-Selectin, ICAM-1, and ET-1 Biomarkers Address the Concern of the Challenging Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) constitutes the most critical comorbidity in autoimmune diseases (ADs) and its early diagnosis remains a challenge for clinicians. Accordingly, we evaluated whether E-selectin, ICAM-1, and ET-1, key molecules in endothelial damage, could be useful biomarkers for the detection of AD-ILD. We recruited patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD ( = 21) and systemic sclerosis (SSc)-ILD ( = 21).

Sex differences in cardiovascular and disease-related features in axial spondyloarthritis. A multicenter study of 912 patients.

Objectives: To determine the potential impact of sex-specific disease-related characteristics on cardiovascular (CV) disease in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of the Spanish AtheSpAin cohort to study CV disease in axSpA. Data on carotid ultrasound and CV disease and disease-related features were collected.

Endothelin-1 as a Biomarker of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Autoimmune Diseases.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a molecule involved in multiple vascular and fibrosing abnormalities, as a biomarker of interstitial lung disease (ILD), as well as its use for the differential diagnosis between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and ILD associated with autoimmune diseases (AD-ILD), using a large and well-defined cohort of patients with ILD. A total of 112 patients with IPF, 91 patients with AD-ILD (28 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 26 systemic sclerosis, 20 idiopathic inflammatory myositis and 17 interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features) and 44 healthy controls were included. ET-1 serum levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Elevated VCAM-1, MCP-1 and ADMA serum levels related to pulmonary fibrosis of interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Early diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) constitutes a challenge for the clinicians. Pulmonary vasculopathy is relevant in the development of interstitial lung disease. Accordingly, we aimed to explore the role of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), key molecules in the vasculopathy, as potential biomarkers of pulmonary fibrosis in RA-ILD.

Cardiovascular and disease-related features associated with extra-articular manifestations in axial spondyloarthritis. A multicenter study of 888 patients.

Objectives: To determine the potential impact of extra-articular manifestations (EAMs) on disease characteristics and cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with axial spondylarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study from the AtheSpAin cohort, a Spanish multicenter cohort to study atherosclerosis in axSpA. Data on the history of CV events, subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, and disease-related features, including EAMs, were collected.

Irisin as a Novel Biomarker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Risk and Severe Disease in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have a high disease burden mainly due to the rheumatic disease itself, and also exhibit accelerated atherosclerosis, that leads to a higher incidence of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Accordingly, the identification of biomarkers of CV risk and inflammation in axSpA patients is clinically relevant. In this sense, given the beneficial functions exerted by the adipomyokine irisin in processes related to CV disease and inflammation, our aim was to assess, for the first time, the role of irisin as a genetic and serological biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis, CV risk and disease severity in axSpA patients.

Factors associated with atherosclerosis in radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. A multicenter study on 838 patients.

Objectives: To identify disease-related factors associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (CV) events in a large series of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and to identify possible differences in the effect of the potential pro-atherogenic factors between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study of the AtheSpAin cohort, a Spanish multicenter cohort to study atherosclerosis in axSpA. Subclinical atherosclerosis determined by carotid ultrasound included assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and plaque detection.

Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with an increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are molecules related to endothelial dysfunction (ED) and atherosclerosis, but also to disease severity in patients with chronic inflammatory disorders. In this case-control study, we aimed to investigate serum Ang-2, ADMA, and OPG levels in patients with HS, and to assess the potential relationship between these levels and disease severity.

Angiogenic T Cells: Potential Biomarkers for the Early Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease in Autoimmune Diseases?

(1) Background: We explored, for the first time, the contribution of angiogenic T cells (TAng) in interstitial lung disease associated to autoimmune disease (AD-ILD) as potential biomarkers of the disease, evaluating their role in the underlying vasculopathy and lung fibrosis. Additionally, the relationship of TAng with clinical manifestations and cellular and molecular endothelial dysfunction-related biomarkers was assessed. (2) Methods: We included 57 AD-ILD patients (21 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD, 21 with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-ILD and 15 with other AD-ILD) and three comparative groups: 45 AD-ILD patients (25 RA-ILD and 20 SSc-ILD); 21 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients; 21 healthy controls (HC).

Potential relation of cardiovascular risk factors to disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients are known to have a higher prevalence of several comorbidities, including, among others, an increased risk of atherosclerosis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the sum of traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors is related to disease characteristics, such as disease activity, in patients with axSpA.

Methods: A cross-sectional study that encompassed 804 patients with axSpA was conducted.

Evaluation of serum omentin-1 and apelin concentrations in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Introduction: Recent studies suggest a role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Omentin-1 and apelin are two recently identified adipokines that have been involved in the regulation of metabolic and inflammatory responses.

Aim: To investigate serum omentin-1 and apelin levels in patients with HS and to assess their associations with metabolic parameters, disease severity and HS risk.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells: Relevant Players in the Vasculopathy and Lung Fibrosis Associated with the Presence of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis Patients.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), which are key effectors in the physiologic vascular network, have been described as relevant players in autoimmune diseases. We previously showed that EPC frequency may help to identify the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Given that ILD constitutes the main cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, we aimed to determine the EPC contribution to the pathogenic processes of vasculopathy and lung fibrosis in SSc-ILD.

Disease activity influences the reclassification of rheumatoid arthritis into very high cardiovascular risk.

Background: Previous studies have shown that risk chart algorithms, such as the Systematic Coronary Risk Assessment (SCORE), often underestimate the actual cardiovascular (CV) risk of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In contrast, carotid ultrasound was found to be useful to identify RA patients at high CV. In the present study, we aimed to determine if specific disease features influence the CV risk reclassification of RA patients assessed by SCORE risk charts and carotid ultrasound.

Vaspin in atherosclerotic disease and cardiovascular risk in axial spondyloarthritis: a genetic and serological study.

Background: Vaspin is a novel anti-inflammatory adipokine associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease and inflammation in chronic inflammatory conditions different from axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Given the high incidence of CV disease (mainly due to accelerated atherosclerosis) exhibited by axSpA patients, we wondered if vaspin could also be a key molecule in this process. However, data on the role of vaspin regarding atherosclerotic disease in the context of axSpA is scarce.

Subclinical atherosclerotic disease in ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. A multicenter study on 806 patients.

Objectives: To compare the atherosclerosis disease burden between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic (nr) axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and establish a model that allows to identify high-cardiovascular (CV) risk in axial spondyloarthritis patients.

Methods: Cross-sectional study from the AtheSpAin cohort, a Spanish multicenter cohort aimed to study atherosclerosis in axSpA. Carotid ultrasound (US) was performed to determine the carotid intima-media wall thickness (cIMT) and detect the presence of carotid plaques.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells as a Potential Biomarker in Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) increases morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the pathogenesis of ILD associated with RA (RA-ILD) remains poorly defined, vascular tissue is crucial in lung physiology. In this context, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are involved in endothelial tissue repair.

Combined use of QRISK3 and SCORE as predictors of carotid plaques in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Because carotid plaques predict the development of cardiovascular events in RA, we aimed to assess if the combined use of the systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE) and the QRISK3 algorithms allows for the identification of RA patients with carotid plaques in a defined population-based RA inception cohort.

Methods: A set of consecutive RA patients without a history of diabetes, chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular events were studied by carotid US between 2012 and 2019. Modified SCORE (mSCORE) for RA based on the 2015/2016 updated EULAR recommendations and QRISK3 algorithms were retrospectively tested using baseline data obtained at the time of the carotid US assessment.

Association of retinol binding protein4 (RBP4) and ghrelin plasma levels with insulin resistance and disease severity in non-diabetic patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with insulin resistance (IR). Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and ghrelin are two bioactive proteins that have been involved in glucose metabolism and IR, but also in the regulation of immune and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of RBP4 and ghrelin in patients with HS, and to assess the possible relationship between these levels and IR, disease severity and HS risk.

Omentin: a biomarker of cardiovascular risk in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the main cause of mortality in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). CV risk is enhanced by dysregulation of adipokines. Low omentin levels were associated with metabolic dysfunction and CV disease in conditions different from axSpA.

Carotid plaques as predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Results from a 5-year-prospective follow-up study.

Objective: To investigate if the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and the QRISK3 algorithms as well as the carotid ultrasound are useful predictors of cardiovascular (CV) events and death in a prospectively defined population-based rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inception cohort.

Methods: A set of 327 consecutive RA patients without history of diabetes, chronic kidney disease or CV events were studied by carotid ultrasound between 2012 and 2013. At that time, CV risk was calculated according to the modified EULAR systematic coronary risk evaluation (mSCORE) for RA.

Circulating levels of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin in non-diabetics patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk. Adipokines are biologically active, pleotropic molecules which have been involved in the development of IR and in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of the present study was to analyze serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin in patients with HS, and investigate their possible associations with IR, HS risk and disease severity.

Association of circulating calprotectin with lipid profile in axial spondyloarthritis.

Calprotectin (CPT) is released during inflammation, also in the context of atherosclerosis. The link between CPT and the atherosclerotic process was evaluated in several diseases. However, studies in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), associated with a high incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis, are scarce.

Detection of high cardiovascular risk patients with ankylosing spondylitis based on the assessment of abdominal aortic calcium as compared to carotid ultrasound.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether, besides carotid ultrasound (US), a lateral lumbar spine radiography may also help identify ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients at high risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Methods: A set of 125 AS patients older than 35 years without a history of CV events, diabetes mellitus, or chronic kidney disease was recruited. Carotid US and lateral lumbar spine radiography were performed in all of them.

Relative Risk Chart Score for the Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objective: To determine if the use of the relative risk (RR) chart score may help to identify young ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients at high risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Methods: 73 AS patients younger than 50 years were assessed. CV risk was calculated according to the total cholesterol systematic coronary risk evaluation (TC-SCORE) and the RR chart score.