Chronic inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction. Infliximab improves inflammatory disease activity in AS patients, but its effect on endothelial dysfunction has still not been tested in these patients. Twelve anti-TNF naive AS patients (mean age, 32.6 +/- 3.94 years; disease duration, 5.6 +/- 0.8 years) with high disease activity [Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI score > 4)] despite treatment with stable doses of conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were investigated. Inflammatory disease activity [BASDAI and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels], serum nitrite concentration, and endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation of the brachial artery were measured at baseline and 12 weeks of therapy after single intravenous infusion of infliximab (5 mg/kg). Previous DMARD(s) regimen remained unchanged throughout the study period. After treatment with infliximab, flow-mediated vasodilation improved from 9.81 +/- 1.70% to 26.93 +/- 2.34% (p < 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in endothelium-independent vasodilation with nitroglycerin and baseline diameter (13.65 +/- 2.10% versus 14.59 +/- 1.93%, p = 0.08, and 4.45 +/- 0.15 versus 4.46 +/- 0.15 mm, p = 0.3, respectively). Nitrite concentration reduced from 6.50 +/- 0.21 to 2.57 +/- 0.18 micromol/l (p < 0.001), ESR from 40.90 +/- 6.00 to 11.50 +/- 1.38 mm in the first hour (p < 0.001), and CRP level from 29.08 +/- 4.11 to 2.69 +/- 0.43 mg/dl (p < 0.001). BASDAI and BASFI scores were significantly reduced from 5.40 +/- 1.14 to 1.40 +/- 0.70 (p < 0.05) and 5.05 +/- 1.76 to 0.20 +/- 0.63 (p < 0.05), respectively. The study suggests that in ankylosing spondylitis, endothelial dysfunction is a part of the disease process and infliximab improves both endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory disease activity.

This study shows the efficacy of an AGE inhibitor on decreasing pain and inflammation, and increasing daily activity and mobility in OA patients.

The study suggests that, in RA, endothelial dysfunction is part of the disease process and treatment with spironolactone improves both endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory disease activity in RA.

Advanced glycation end products inhibitor improves endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory disease activity in RA. In RA, endothelial dysfunction is part of the disease process and is mediated by AGEs-induced inflammation.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetes. Autonomic neuropathy is a risk factor for cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Sudomotor dysfunction is well established in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and reflects small fibre neuropathy, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and peripheral sympathetic autonomic neuropathy. However, the relationship between sudomotor dysfunction and PAD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of present study was to explore the association of sudomotor function with ankle-brachial index (ABI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in T2DM. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 36 consecutive type 2 diabetes patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Sudomotor function was assessed using Sudoscan (Sudoscan-Impeto Medical Device, EZS 01750010193, Paris, France), which detects sweat gland function through measurement of electrochemical skin conductance of both hands and feet. Measurement of ankle-brachial ABI was carried out with sphygmomanometer and Doppler device (Hadeco Bidop ES-100V3). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, and inflammatory marker CRP were also measured. Type 2 diabetic patients had significantly impaired sudomotor function (48.14 ± 8.28 vs. 76.48 ± 6.72 µs), lower ABI (0.89 ± 0.25 vs. 1.15 ± 0.11) and elevated CRP (5.32 ± 2.41 vs. 2.45 ± 1.11 mg/l) as compared to healthy controls, respectively (p < 0.01). Sudoscan scores were found to be inversely correlated with CRP and HbA1c, and directly correlated with ABI (p < 0.05) in the patients. Sudomotor dysfunction is associated with significant peripheral artery disease, vascular inflammation and impaired glycaemic status.