Atherosclerosis has been shown to be increased in chronic inflammatory diseases including ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Impaired endothelial function, the first step in atherosclerosis, may be reflected by changes in various endothelial biomarkers of hemostasis and the release of several cellular adhesion molecules or cytokines. In this study, we investigated changes in the levels of various possible markers with regard to disease activity and treatment regimen with/without anti-TNF-α drugs. Fifty-six AS patients (44 males) and 27 controls (19 males) with no known cardiovascular risk factors were included in the study. Spinal mobility was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, and patients were evaluated with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index. Cytokines and various endothelial biomarkers were measured in serum samples using commercially available ELISA kits. Age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, MAP, lipids are all similar between patients and controls. von Willebrand factor (vWF), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), and urotensin (UT-II) were found to be significantly higher in the sera of the patients compared to the controls. Treatment with anti-TNF-α compared to conventional therapy and disease activity in AS patients seemed to have no effect on the blood levels of UT-II, sTM, CD146, vWF, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tissue plasminogen activator, or the thrombin-antithrombin complex. The increased UT-II, sTM, and vWF in AS patient sera regardless of treatment and disease activity suggest an increased tendency for atherosclerosis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10067-011-1760-z | DOI Listing |
Rheumatol Int
December 2024
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kocaeli University Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Background: Hematological markers such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are reliable indicators of inflammation. This study aims to investigate the potential role of these markers in assessing disease activity and treatment response in biologic-naive Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients following the initiation of biological agents.
Materials And Methods: We designed this study as a retrospective cohort study with data obtained from a single center.
Rheumatol Int
December 2024
Chair of Psychiatry and Narcology, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Chronic pain and restricted mobility, hallmark features of rheumatic diseases, substantially affect patients' quality of life, often resulting in physical disability and emotional distress. Given the long-term nature of these conditions, there is a growing interest in complementary therapeutic approaches, emphasizing the need to explore non-pharmacological treatments. Hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and mud therapy have emerged as effective interventions to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, improve joint mobility, and enhance overall physical and mental well-being.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Ophthalmol
December 2024
Department of Ophthalmology and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital; Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Background/aims: The purpose of this study is to define genetic factors associated with anterior uveitis through genome-wide association study (GWAS).
Methods: In this GWAS meta-analysis, we combined data from the FinnGen, Estonian Biobank and UK Biobank with a total of 12 205 anterior uveitis cases and 917 145 controls. We performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) to investigate associations across phenotypes and traits.
Curr Rheumatol Rep
December 2024
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Purpose Of Review: The canonical pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA) involves inflammation driven by HLA-B27, type 3 immunity, and gut microbial dysregulation. This review based on information presented at the SPARTAN meeting highlights studies on the pathogenesis of SpA from the past year, focusing on emerging mechanisms such as the roles of microbe-derived metabolites, microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines in plasma exosomes, specific T cell subsets, and neutrophils.
Recent Findings: The induction of arthritis in a preclinical model through microbiota-driven alterations in tryptophan catabolism provides new insights as to how intestinal dysbiosis may activate disease via the gut-joint axis.
BMC Med Res Methodol
December 2024
Janssen Research & Development LLC, Global Epidemiology Organization, Raritan, NJ, USA.
Background: Autoimmune disorders have primary manifestations such as joint pain and bowel inflammation but can also have secondary manifestations such as non-infectious uveitis (NIU). A regulatory health authority raised concerns after receiving spontaneous reports for NIU following exposure to Remicade, a biologic therapy with multiple indications for which alternative therapies are available. In assessment of this clinical question, we applied validity diagnostics to support observational data causal inferences.
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