Simona Rednic | University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu" Cluj-Napoca (original) (raw)
Papers by Simona Rednic
Poster Presentations, 2019
EULAR recommendations for neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus vs usual care: results
Romanian Journal of Rheumatology, 2021
Systemic sclerosis is a chronic connective tissue disease characterized by multi-organ involvemen... more Systemic sclerosis is a chronic connective tissue disease characterized by multi-organ involvement but the main clinical changes occur in the hands, secondary to skin, joint and microvascular damage. Therefore the hand received a special attention for imaging and especially for ultrasound evaluation. In rheumatology US become an extension of the clinical examination and particularly in systemic sclerosis it has been proven to help with a better assessment of the skin, blood vessels, joints and tendons involvement. This evolution was allowed by permanent improvement of technology along with expanding the range of ultrasound applications which happened especially in past decade.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2001
Background Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is a vasodilator and antiplatelet... more Background Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is a vasodilator and antiplatelet drug credited with TNFα transcription inhibition as well. PTX was successfully used in refractory cases of rheumatoid arthritis and in some vasculitides, mainly cutaneous. Objectives The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of PTX given as monotherapy after induction of remission in systemic rheumatoid vasculitis (RV). Methods 12 systemic RV patients (diagnosed according to the Scott&Bacon criteria) were taken into study after the induction of clinical remission (irrespective of the remissive therapy). Each patient received a daily dose of 600 mg PTX. The following were evaluated upon enrollment and after 3 months: clinical signs of vasculitis (on a modified BVAS log), morning stiffness, ESR, CRP and C4 (Mancini), TNFα (ELISA- R&D). The data were compared using the Student?s t test for paired variables. Results A relapse presenting with constitutional signs appeared only in one of the...
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2021
Background:The presence of anti-Ro antibodies in female patients diagnosed with systemic lupus er... more Background:The presence of anti-Ro antibodies in female patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) in their fertile years raises concern among the medical team due to the risk of neonatal lupus in their newborns (NB).(1)Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences between the outcome of anti-Ro positive pregnancies in SLE and SS.Methods:This is a retrospective observational study carried out in a Rheumatology tertiary center. We included anti-Ro positive female SLE and SS patients, who were diagnosed before or during pregnancy and followed in our clinic between 2003-2020. The diagnosis of SLE or SS was established according to the 2012 SLICC criteria and the 2016 EULAR/ACR criteria, respectively. Clinical, immunological and pregnancy parameters were recorded before (where available), during and after pregnancy, as well as maternal risk factors (smoking, BMI, disease and medication history). Statisti...
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 2019
Gastrointestinal tract involvement is the most common visceral affectation in systemic sclerosis ... more Gastrointestinal tract involvement is the most common visceral affectation in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but the manifestations may vary in extension and severity. Endoscopic and histopathological gastroesophageal findings were investigated in patients with SSc. A total of 79 consecutive patients with definite SSc were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Clinical data were collected, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsies from gastric mucosa were performed in all cases. Fifty-seven (72.1%) out of 79 SSc patients had gastroesophageal symptoms. The most frequent were dysphagia, present in 33 (41.7%) and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in 23 (29.1%) patients. Out of the 79 patients, 22 were asymptomatic, but in 16 esophageal and gastric mucosa changes were endoscopically detected. Reflux esophagitis was found in 39 (49.3%) patients. The presence of esophageal manifestations was not related to the disease duration or with its other variables. Signs of gastritis were endoscopically described in 47 (59.4%) and confirmed on histopathologic examinations in 45 patients. In 31 patients without any endoscopic changes, 18 (22.7%) showed signs of gastritis on histopathologic examination. No significant statistical differences were found between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients or between those with limited cutaneous SSc and those with diffuse cutaneous SSc in terms of clinical, endoscopic or histopathological findings, except the higher proportion of hiatal hernia in symptomatic patients. The results of this study might suggest that upper gastrointestinal endoscopy should be performed during the early stage of the disease and then periodically in patients diagnosed with SSc, even in the absence of typical symptoms.
HPR Interventions (educational, physical, social and psychological), 2019
Scleroderma, myositis and related syndromes, 2018
patient 2. CDAI decreased from 31.8 to 7.4 in 12 months in patient 1 and 34.6 to 10.7 in patient ... more patient 2. CDAI decreased from 31.8 to 7.4 in 12 months in patient 1 and 34.6 to 10.7 in patient 2. Skin thickness evaluated with the 17 site modified Rodnan skin score improved in patient 1 (from 23 to 2) and patient 2 (from 15 to 8) in 12 months. Adverse reactions were observed cellulitis in right foot planter at 6 week treatment in patient 2. She did withdrawal tocilizumab for 4 week. After cure cellulitis, she continued tocilizumab treatment. Conclusions: In the two cases of RA with SSc that we report here, softening of the skin was observed during the treatment with tocilizumab. Tocilizumab may be effective against RA and SSc for which conventional treatment is inadequate.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016
was significantly higher in 14 IBD-SpA patients associating Pso (28.5%) compared with the remaini... more was significantly higher in 14 IBD-SpA patients associating Pso (28.5%) compared with the remaining 74 cases (16.2%) (p=0.012). Dactylitis occurred in 2/29 (6.9%) and in 2/59 (3.38%) patients with UC and CD, respectively. Anterior uveitis was recorded in 3 (3.4%) IBD-SpA patients and in 26 (14.7%) controls (p=0.02). Conclusions: Dactylitis and enthesitis were significantly lower in IBD-SpA patients compared to other SpA. As reported 3 , Pso was frequent in our cohort of IBD-SpA,and its coexistency significantly increased the frequency of enthesitis and to a lesser extent of dactylitis.Anterior uveitis was significantly less frequent in IBD-SpA compared to controls.
Clinical and experimental rheumatology
Models for the attribution of neuropsychiatric manifestations to systemic lupus erythematosus (NP... more Models for the attribution of neuropsychiatric manifestations to systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) that incorporate timing and type of manifestation, exclusion/confounding or favouring factors have been proposed. We tested their diagnostic performance against expert physician judgment. SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations were identified through retrospective chart review. Manifestations were classified according to physician judgment as attributed to SLE, not attributed or uncertain. Results were compared against the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) attribution models A and B, and one introduced by the Italian Study Group on NPSLE. 191 patients experienced a total 242 neuropsychiatric manifestations, 136 of which were attributed to SLE according to physician. Both SLICC models showed high specificity (96.2% and 79.2% for model A and B, respectively) but low sensitivity (22.8% and 34.6%, respectively) against physician judgment. Exclusion of...
Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie, 2016
A 46-year-old female patient presented with photosensitivity, symmetric arthritis, episodic plant... more A 46-year-old female patient presented with photosensitivity, symmetric arthritis, episodic plantar pain and strikingly redundant plantar skin folds, likely due to lipoatrophy after recurrent episodes of plantar panniculitis. In this context, leukopenia with lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and positive antinuclear antibodies were revelatory for systemic lupus erythematosus. However, a small cerebriform plantar collagenoma, along with discrete dysmorphic features with downslanting palpebral fissures and mild right ptosis, second and third syndactyly and a larger first right toe since childhood, and early-onset bilateral ovarian cystadenoma, suggested a minimal Proteus syndrome. Genetic confirmation could not be performed. As adipose tissue dysregulation may be a feature of Proteus syndrome, the possible mechanisms leading to localized lipoatrophy in this setting are discussed. This case enlights intriguing links between adipogenesis, inflammation and dysmorphology. From a practical poi...
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 2016
Acro-osteolysis, or bony resorption of the terminal digital tufts, is a well-recognized, but unde... more Acro-osteolysis, or bony resorption of the terminal digital tufts, is a well-recognized, but under-researched, feature of systemic sclerosis. The mechanisms that disturbs local homeostatic balance of bone formation and resorption in favor of osteoclast activation and pathological bone loss remain to be established. Vascular alterations and reduced capillary density impair tissue oxygenation in systemic sclerosis, and the resulting hypoxia might contribute directly to the disease progression. In this paper we summarize the current evidence for hypoxia as the common pathophysiological denominator of digital vasculopathy and enhanced osteoclastic activity in systemic sclerosis-associated acroosteolysis. The hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF-1α and VEGF signaling has a critical role in regulating osteoclastic bone-resorption and angiogenesis, and increased osteoclastogenesis and higher VEGF levels may contribute to acroosteolysis in systemic sclerosis. The cells of the osteoblast lineage also have important roles in angiogenic-osteogenic coupling. The research in this field might help limiting the disability associated with the disease. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Hypoxia in systemic sclerosis: The HIF pathway and its dysregulation in angiogenesis and osteoclastogenesis 3. Conclusions
Revista Romana de Medicina de Laborator, 2016
Introduction: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are poor pr... more Introduction: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are poor prognostic factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The therapeutic implication of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity in RA is still debated. The study aims to evaluate ANA positivity as a prognostic factor for the therapeutic response to biologics in RA. Methods: observational study; data were gathered from the Romanian Registry of Rheumatic Diseases which comprises all biological-treated RA patients in Romania. We included only RA patients who were tested for ANA before initiating biologics. Results: A number of 740 RA patients were included (72.4% treated with TNF-α blockers, 27.6% with rituximab). Compared to ANA-negative patients, ANA-positive patients (26.9%) had: a higher disease activity score (DAS28) prior to biologics, at the time of treatment switch and after the observation period; lower drug persistence (p < 0.001 for all tests). Multiple linear regressions showed that ANA ...
Clinical Laboratory, 2016
Recent research suggests that biomarkers may be useful in assessing disease activity, structural ... more Recent research suggests that biomarkers may be useful in assessing disease activity, structural damage, and response to therapy in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our study aims at evaluating the relationship between inflammation and bone remodeling markers and variables assessing disease activity and functional disability in patients with axSpA. Serum levels of sclerostin, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and IL-23 were measured in 60 patients with axSpA and 20 healthy controls. Disease activity was evaluated using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Functional status was assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Function Index (BASFI) and measures of spinal mobility. Sclerostin levels were more elevated in axSpA patients with high disease activity than in those with low disease activity and in controls. They were significantly correlated with BASFI values (r = 0.29, p = 0.03) and measures of spinal mobility, but not with the classical markers of disease activity (BASDAI, ASDAS, CRP, and ESR). Although both MMP-3 and IL-17 levels were elevated in patients with active disease, they were not correlated with markers of disease activity or with functional disability. The levels of sclerostin, MMP-3, IL-17, and IL-23 were similar in axSpA patients and healthy controls. Elevated levels of sclerostin, MMP-3, and IL-17 were observed in axSpA patients with active disease, suggesting their potential role in assessing disease activity. In axSpA patients, sclerostin levels might be equally influenced by inflammation and level of physical activity. Further studies are required to confirm our findings in order to understand their clinical value.
Background: Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. The ankle-b... more Background: Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. The ankle-brachial index (ABPI), the ratio of tibial artery systolic blood pressure and brachial pressure, is known to be a marker for peripheral atherosclerosis. Objectives: To assess the ABPI in patients with systemic RV during clinical remission. Methods: 12 patients in the department''s evidence with a history of systemic RV diagnosed between 1997 and 2000 and currently in clinical remission (RV group, mean age 57.3 yrs) were studied, along with 30 age-matched rheumatoid arthritis patients as controls (RA group). The ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) was measured using a Siemens Doppler ultrasound machine with a 8 MHz probe and a precise sphingomanometer.The following were recorded: presence of overt cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease), blood pressure, glycemia, corticosteroid usage, LDL cholesterol level, CRP, C3 levels and anticardioli...
Poster Presentations, 2019
EULAR recommendations for neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus vs usual care: results
Romanian Journal of Rheumatology, 2021
Systemic sclerosis is a chronic connective tissue disease characterized by multi-organ involvemen... more Systemic sclerosis is a chronic connective tissue disease characterized by multi-organ involvement but the main clinical changes occur in the hands, secondary to skin, joint and microvascular damage. Therefore the hand received a special attention for imaging and especially for ultrasound evaluation. In rheumatology US become an extension of the clinical examination and particularly in systemic sclerosis it has been proven to help with a better assessment of the skin, blood vessels, joints and tendons involvement. This evolution was allowed by permanent improvement of technology along with expanding the range of ultrasound applications which happened especially in past decade.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2001
Background Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is a vasodilator and antiplatelet... more Background Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is a vasodilator and antiplatelet drug credited with TNFα transcription inhibition as well. PTX was successfully used in refractory cases of rheumatoid arthritis and in some vasculitides, mainly cutaneous. Objectives The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of PTX given as monotherapy after induction of remission in systemic rheumatoid vasculitis (RV). Methods 12 systemic RV patients (diagnosed according to the Scott&Bacon criteria) were taken into study after the induction of clinical remission (irrespective of the remissive therapy). Each patient received a daily dose of 600 mg PTX. The following were evaluated upon enrollment and after 3 months: clinical signs of vasculitis (on a modified BVAS log), morning stiffness, ESR, CRP and C4 (Mancini), TNFα (ELISA- R&D). The data were compared using the Student?s t test for paired variables. Results A relapse presenting with constitutional signs appeared only in one of the...
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2021
Background:The presence of anti-Ro antibodies in female patients diagnosed with systemic lupus er... more Background:The presence of anti-Ro antibodies in female patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) in their fertile years raises concern among the medical team due to the risk of neonatal lupus in their newborns (NB).(1)Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences between the outcome of anti-Ro positive pregnancies in SLE and SS.Methods:This is a retrospective observational study carried out in a Rheumatology tertiary center. We included anti-Ro positive female SLE and SS patients, who were diagnosed before or during pregnancy and followed in our clinic between 2003-2020. The diagnosis of SLE or SS was established according to the 2012 SLICC criteria and the 2016 EULAR/ACR criteria, respectively. Clinical, immunological and pregnancy parameters were recorded before (where available), during and after pregnancy, as well as maternal risk factors (smoking, BMI, disease and medication history). Statisti...
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 2019
Gastrointestinal tract involvement is the most common visceral affectation in systemic sclerosis ... more Gastrointestinal tract involvement is the most common visceral affectation in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but the manifestations may vary in extension and severity. Endoscopic and histopathological gastroesophageal findings were investigated in patients with SSc. A total of 79 consecutive patients with definite SSc were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Clinical data were collected, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsies from gastric mucosa were performed in all cases. Fifty-seven (72.1%) out of 79 SSc patients had gastroesophageal symptoms. The most frequent were dysphagia, present in 33 (41.7%) and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in 23 (29.1%) patients. Out of the 79 patients, 22 were asymptomatic, but in 16 esophageal and gastric mucosa changes were endoscopically detected. Reflux esophagitis was found in 39 (49.3%) patients. The presence of esophageal manifestations was not related to the disease duration or with its other variables. Signs of gastritis were endoscopically described in 47 (59.4%) and confirmed on histopathologic examinations in 45 patients. In 31 patients without any endoscopic changes, 18 (22.7%) showed signs of gastritis on histopathologic examination. No significant statistical differences were found between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients or between those with limited cutaneous SSc and those with diffuse cutaneous SSc in terms of clinical, endoscopic or histopathological findings, except the higher proportion of hiatal hernia in symptomatic patients. The results of this study might suggest that upper gastrointestinal endoscopy should be performed during the early stage of the disease and then periodically in patients diagnosed with SSc, even in the absence of typical symptoms.
HPR Interventions (educational, physical, social and psychological), 2019
Scleroderma, myositis and related syndromes, 2018
patient 2. CDAI decreased from 31.8 to 7.4 in 12 months in patient 1 and 34.6 to 10.7 in patient ... more patient 2. CDAI decreased from 31.8 to 7.4 in 12 months in patient 1 and 34.6 to 10.7 in patient 2. Skin thickness evaluated with the 17 site modified Rodnan skin score improved in patient 1 (from 23 to 2) and patient 2 (from 15 to 8) in 12 months. Adverse reactions were observed cellulitis in right foot planter at 6 week treatment in patient 2. She did withdrawal tocilizumab for 4 week. After cure cellulitis, she continued tocilizumab treatment. Conclusions: In the two cases of RA with SSc that we report here, softening of the skin was observed during the treatment with tocilizumab. Tocilizumab may be effective against RA and SSc for which conventional treatment is inadequate.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016
was significantly higher in 14 IBD-SpA patients associating Pso (28.5%) compared with the remaini... more was significantly higher in 14 IBD-SpA patients associating Pso (28.5%) compared with the remaining 74 cases (16.2%) (p=0.012). Dactylitis occurred in 2/29 (6.9%) and in 2/59 (3.38%) patients with UC and CD, respectively. Anterior uveitis was recorded in 3 (3.4%) IBD-SpA patients and in 26 (14.7%) controls (p=0.02). Conclusions: Dactylitis and enthesitis were significantly lower in IBD-SpA patients compared to other SpA. As reported 3 , Pso was frequent in our cohort of IBD-SpA,and its coexistency significantly increased the frequency of enthesitis and to a lesser extent of dactylitis.Anterior uveitis was significantly less frequent in IBD-SpA compared to controls.
Clinical and experimental rheumatology
Models for the attribution of neuropsychiatric manifestations to systemic lupus erythematosus (NP... more Models for the attribution of neuropsychiatric manifestations to systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) that incorporate timing and type of manifestation, exclusion/confounding or favouring factors have been proposed. We tested their diagnostic performance against expert physician judgment. SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations were identified through retrospective chart review. Manifestations were classified according to physician judgment as attributed to SLE, not attributed or uncertain. Results were compared against the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) attribution models A and B, and one introduced by the Italian Study Group on NPSLE. 191 patients experienced a total 242 neuropsychiatric manifestations, 136 of which were attributed to SLE according to physician. Both SLICC models showed high specificity (96.2% and 79.2% for model A and B, respectively) but low sensitivity (22.8% and 34.6%, respectively) against physician judgment. Exclusion of...
Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie, 2016
A 46-year-old female patient presented with photosensitivity, symmetric arthritis, episodic plant... more A 46-year-old female patient presented with photosensitivity, symmetric arthritis, episodic plantar pain and strikingly redundant plantar skin folds, likely due to lipoatrophy after recurrent episodes of plantar panniculitis. In this context, leukopenia with lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and positive antinuclear antibodies were revelatory for systemic lupus erythematosus. However, a small cerebriform plantar collagenoma, along with discrete dysmorphic features with downslanting palpebral fissures and mild right ptosis, second and third syndactyly and a larger first right toe since childhood, and early-onset bilateral ovarian cystadenoma, suggested a minimal Proteus syndrome. Genetic confirmation could not be performed. As adipose tissue dysregulation may be a feature of Proteus syndrome, the possible mechanisms leading to localized lipoatrophy in this setting are discussed. This case enlights intriguing links between adipogenesis, inflammation and dysmorphology. From a practical poi...
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 2016
Acro-osteolysis, or bony resorption of the terminal digital tufts, is a well-recognized, but unde... more Acro-osteolysis, or bony resorption of the terminal digital tufts, is a well-recognized, but under-researched, feature of systemic sclerosis. The mechanisms that disturbs local homeostatic balance of bone formation and resorption in favor of osteoclast activation and pathological bone loss remain to be established. Vascular alterations and reduced capillary density impair tissue oxygenation in systemic sclerosis, and the resulting hypoxia might contribute directly to the disease progression. In this paper we summarize the current evidence for hypoxia as the common pathophysiological denominator of digital vasculopathy and enhanced osteoclastic activity in systemic sclerosis-associated acroosteolysis. The hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF-1α and VEGF signaling has a critical role in regulating osteoclastic bone-resorption and angiogenesis, and increased osteoclastogenesis and higher VEGF levels may contribute to acroosteolysis in systemic sclerosis. The cells of the osteoblast lineage also have important roles in angiogenic-osteogenic coupling. The research in this field might help limiting the disability associated with the disease. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Hypoxia in systemic sclerosis: The HIF pathway and its dysregulation in angiogenesis and osteoclastogenesis 3. Conclusions
Revista Romana de Medicina de Laborator, 2016
Introduction: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are poor pr... more Introduction: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are poor prognostic factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The therapeutic implication of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity in RA is still debated. The study aims to evaluate ANA positivity as a prognostic factor for the therapeutic response to biologics in RA. Methods: observational study; data were gathered from the Romanian Registry of Rheumatic Diseases which comprises all biological-treated RA patients in Romania. We included only RA patients who were tested for ANA before initiating biologics. Results: A number of 740 RA patients were included (72.4% treated with TNF-α blockers, 27.6% with rituximab). Compared to ANA-negative patients, ANA-positive patients (26.9%) had: a higher disease activity score (DAS28) prior to biologics, at the time of treatment switch and after the observation period; lower drug persistence (p < 0.001 for all tests). Multiple linear regressions showed that ANA ...
Clinical Laboratory, 2016
Recent research suggests that biomarkers may be useful in assessing disease activity, structural ... more Recent research suggests that biomarkers may be useful in assessing disease activity, structural damage, and response to therapy in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our study aims at evaluating the relationship between inflammation and bone remodeling markers and variables assessing disease activity and functional disability in patients with axSpA. Serum levels of sclerostin, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and IL-23 were measured in 60 patients with axSpA and 20 healthy controls. Disease activity was evaluated using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Functional status was assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Function Index (BASFI) and measures of spinal mobility. Sclerostin levels were more elevated in axSpA patients with high disease activity than in those with low disease activity and in controls. They were significantly correlated with BASFI values (r = 0.29, p = 0.03) and measures of spinal mobility, but not with the classical markers of disease activity (BASDAI, ASDAS, CRP, and ESR). Although both MMP-3 and IL-17 levels were elevated in patients with active disease, they were not correlated with markers of disease activity or with functional disability. The levels of sclerostin, MMP-3, IL-17, and IL-23 were similar in axSpA patients and healthy controls. Elevated levels of sclerostin, MMP-3, and IL-17 were observed in axSpA patients with active disease, suggesting their potential role in assessing disease activity. In axSpA patients, sclerostin levels might be equally influenced by inflammation and level of physical activity. Further studies are required to confirm our findings in order to understand their clinical value.
Background: Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. The ankle-b... more Background: Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. The ankle-brachial index (ABPI), the ratio of tibial artery systolic blood pressure and brachial pressure, is known to be a marker for peripheral atherosclerosis. Objectives: To assess the ABPI in patients with systemic RV during clinical remission. Methods: 12 patients in the department''s evidence with a history of systemic RV diagnosed between 1997 and 2000 and currently in clinical remission (RV group, mean age 57.3 yrs) were studied, along with 30 age-matched rheumatoid arthritis patients as controls (RA group). The ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) was measured using a Siemens Doppler ultrasound machine with a 8 MHz probe and a precise sphingomanometer.The following were recorded: presence of overt cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease), blood pressure, glycemia, corticosteroid usage, LDL cholesterol level, CRP, C3 levels and anticardioli...