Obesity can be a factor that affects the course of chronic systemic inflammatory arthritis. The objective of this study was to characterise patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) according to an evaluation of their body mass index (BMI BMI £ 24.9,

Conclusions Here, we describe that the novel cytokine IL-36α, mainly expressed by plasma cells, is upregulated in PsA and RA synovium and leads to IL-6 and IL-8 production by synovial fibroblasts. This finding needs further studies to determine if the IL-36 family can function as a potential target for arthritis therapy. LACK OF ASSOCIATION OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN University of Latvia, LatviaBackground Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a clinically wellknown chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton and peripheral joints. The pathogenesis of this disease still remains a challenge. Determination of cytokine profile and its role involved in AS pathogenesis give an opportunity to extend the targeted therapeutic approach. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) are cytokines of interest in the investigation of the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritides although their importance in AS is not clearly defined.Objectives to investigate levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in a group of AS and in a demographically matched group of healthy subjects and its association with the disease activity measured by relevant clinical and biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods 39 AS patients classified by the modified New York and ASAS criteria were assessed clinically and 6 ml of serum were collected from each patient. 39 healthy subjects as control group were included in this study. The serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels were tested using xMAP multiplex immunobead assay technology. At the same time the disease activity was measured by using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) using C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Results The mean serum IL-17 and IL-23 level in AS group was respectively 18.9 (SD 39.6) and 194.6 (SD 261.4) pg/ml. In the healthy control group the mean serum IL-17 level was 15.4 (SD 26.0) and 3) pg/ml. The serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were not statistically significantly different from the healthy subjects and the levels did not correlate with the disease activity measured by BASDAI and ASDAS (using the CRP and ESR). Conclusions These results suggest that IL-17 and IL-23 are not major components of the pathogenesis of inflammation in AS patients. Our data differ from Chen W S et al, in 2012 published data of the serum IL-17 and IL-23 level association with the disease activity in Chinese patients with AS. This difference is probably due to the various genetic aspects characterising AS as geographically matched disease.

J. Zepa et al. 2 CD40 gene rs4810485 polymorphism was tested by a TaqMan Pre-Designed SNP Genotyping Assay. In the case of CD40 gene rs4810485 polymorphism, the minor allele is T. Compared to the control subjects, the case group had a higher frequency of the minor allele T (28.6% vs. 17.5%; p=0.00345).The T allele was the risk allele for disease onset (OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.23-2.88)). The relationship between the disease and genotypes was of moderate significance (V=0.20). As for genotypes, GT and TT were the susceptibility genotypes for AS (respectively OR 2.42 (95% CI 1.38 -4.25) and 1.94 (95% CI 0.71-5.32)). The GG genotype had a protective feature (OR 0.43 (95% CI 0.25 -0.73)). A significant difference was not found in the analysis of the SNP alleles and genotype distribution in the peripheral arthritis (p=0.85 and p=0.86, respectively) and uveitis (p=0.47 and p=0.3, respectively) subgroups of AS patients. The study data showed that CD40 gene rs4810485 polymorphism is associated with risk of AS.

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Background and Objectives Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disease. Recently, a link has been established between autoimmune inflammatory diseases, incl. AS, and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Uveitis is the most frequent extraarticular location of AS - it occurs in about 25 - 40% of patients. The impact of evidence of uveitis during the course of AS still remains a challenge. Does AS with uveitis differ from AS without uveitis? The objective of this study was to detect the link between uveitis during the course of AS and the CVD risk factors in patients with AS. Materials and Methods 77 AS patients classified using the modified New York criteria were assessed clinically and 6 ml of serum was collected from each patient. Patients were divided into two groups: with and without uveitis. The following parameters were chosen as the CVD risk factors: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc). Statistical analyses included a between-group comparison of age, duration of the disease, the disease activity (measured using Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) with C-reactive protein (CRP)) and values of the CVD risk factors. Results The mean age was 39.7 years (SD 10.15), disease duration 13.5 years (SD 8.44) and ASDAScrp 3.0 (SD 1.38). These parameters were not statistically significantly different between the groups. The mean value of BMI, WC and HDLc in AS group with uveitis (n = 26) were respectively 24.8 kg/cm2 (SD 4.22), 91.3 cm (SD 14.23) and 1.51 mmol/l (SD 0.5). The mean value of BMI, WC and HDLc in AS group without uveitis (n = 51) were respectively 25.4 kg/cm2 (SD 4.2), 93.1 cm (SD 11.67) and 1.39 mmol/l (SD 0.39). The values of the CVD risk factors were not statistically significantly different between the groups. Conclusions These results suggest that uveitis does not impact the CVD risk factors in patients with AS. Thus it can be proposed that aspects of the pathogenesis, genetics of uveitis in patients with AS do not interfere with pathways of CVD. Further investigations are needed.

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