This cross-sectional study aimed to compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) findings in patients with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP; n = 22), very early disease of systemic sclerosis (VEDOSS; n = 19), and systemic sclerosis (SSc; 25 patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) and 13 patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc)). Whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel densities (VDs), deep capillary plexus VDs, and whole, inside, and peripapillary VDs were significantly higher in the PRP group (p < 0.001). In the lcSSc group, the FAZ perimeter was significantly higher than that in the VEDOSS group (p = 0.017). Retinal nerve fiber layer VDs were significantly lower in the lcSSc group than in the PRP and VEDOSS groups (p < 0.001). The whole and peripapillary optic disc VDs of the VEDOSS group were significantly higher than in the lcSSc group (p < 0.001). Whole SCP VDs (94.74% sensitivity, 100.00% specificity) and parafoveal SCP VDs (89.47% sensitivity, 100.00% specificity) showed the best performance in distinguishing patients with SSc from those with PRP. OCT-A seems to have potential diagnostic value in differentiating patients with PRP from patients with SSc and VEDOSS, and there is potential value in assessing prognostic roles, since findings from OCT-A images could be early indicators of retinal vascular injury long before overt SSc symptoms develop.
Background/Aim: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease characterized by the infiltration of various organs. Due to the lack of a widely-accepted biomarker, researchers have explored alternative and previously unexplored parameters in sarcoidosis. This study aimed to investigate the utility of various markers, including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), in patients with sarcoidosis. Methods: A case-control study was conducted between January 2019 and February 2023. The study included 75 patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis, and 93 healthy individuals matched for age, sex, and body mass index. Sarcoidosis-related features, such as lung stage and extrapulmonary involvement, were recorded. The researchers investigated SII, PIV, procalcitonin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), other biochemical results, and complete blood counts (including neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet counts, hemoglobin, mean platelet volume [MPV], and red cell distribution width [RDW]). Results: The age and sex distribution were similar in both the case and control groups (P=0.258 and P=0.196, respectively). The patient group had a significantly lower absolute lymphocyte count than the control group (P=0.035). Patients’ RDW (P=0.007), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (P=0.028), and ESR (P<0.001) values were significantly higher compared to controls. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding other variables, including PIV and SII. There was a significant weak positive correlation between PIV and lung stage, as well as between MPV and the presence of erythema nodosum. Conclusion: PIV and SII values in patients with sarcoidosis were similar to controls. The positive correlations between PIV and lung stage and between MPV and erythema nodosum suggest potential relationships with sarcoidosis-related features and demonstrate the value of these readily available and inexpensive markers in patient management. Comprehensive studies are needed to clarify whether SII and/or PIV can be used to assess the characteristics of patients with sarcoidosis.
Background/Aim: Tuberculosis is a disease involving many systems, such as the lung, gastrointestinal system, genitourinary system, etc. Detecting this disease in its latency significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with tuberculosis. One of the tests used in latent TB screening is the interferon gamma release test. In rheumatology practices, it is routinely used to screen for latent tuberculosis infections before treatment with biological agents and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and it can also be used to exclude tuberculosis infection in clinical practice. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the reasons for requesting interferon gamma release tests and the results of this test in patients who requested it. Methods: Patients admitted to internal medicine and rheumatology outpatient clinics were retrospectively screened within the retrospective cohort study. In total, 364 patients who requested interferon gamma release testing were included in the study. Nine patients with unclear test results were excluded. Laboratory results, demographic data, reasons for requesting the interferon gamma release test, and results were evaluated. Results: The interferon gamma release test was requested by 355 patients. Of these, 266 patients (74.9%) asked for latent tuberculosis screening before treatment with biological agents and JAK inhibitors. This was followed by patients with peripheral lymphadenopathy-lung nodules, patients with unexplained elevated acute phase reactants, and patients with constitutional symptoms, respectively. Ten out of 107 patients (9.3%) had an active tuberculosis infection, while six out of ten patients (60%) had pulmonary tuberculosis, and four (40%) had extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: The most common reason for requesting the interferon gamma release test in internal medicine and rheumatology clinics was screening for latent tuberculosis before treatment with biologic agents and JAK inhibitors. In internal medicine, it has been observed that this test can also be requested by patients with constitutional symptoms, unexplained elevated acute phase reactants, and a preliminary diagnosis of tuberculosis in order to rule out or strengthen the preliminary diagnosis.
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