Background Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory syndrome characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and aseptic polyserositis. Subclinical inflammation generates a hidden threat to the development of FMF complications such as amyloidosis in attack-free intervals. The kynurenine pathway (KP) has been considered an important player in inflammation and immune response. The study was aimed to measure serum levels of KP metabolites in patients with FMF in the attack-free period. Methods A total of 161 participants were recruited from the rheumatology department in this single-center, case-control study. Participants meeting the eligibility criteria were divided into healthy controls (n=80) and FMF (n=81). The laboratory data were obtained from the electronic registration database. Serum tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, quinolinic acid concentrations were measured with tandem mass spectrometry. Laboratory findings of FMF patients and healthy controls subjects were compared and evaluated. Results Serum tryptophan, kynurenic acid levels were significantly decreased in both FMF groups compared to the control group, while the levels of kynurenine, quinolinic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, the Kynurenine/Tryptophan ratio, and RDW were higher. Conclusion Tryptophan degradation by the KP is increased in patients with FMF. KP metabolites can be useful in demonstrating subclinical inflammation.

Objective: Behçet's Disease (BD) is a polygenic and chronic autoinflammatory multisystemic vasculitis disease characterised by mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal and ophthalmologic lesions. There has been no specific test or serum marker to measure and determine the diagnosis and severity of BD. Purpose:The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of haematological parameters as MLR (monocyte to lymphocyte ratio), NLR (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet to lymphocyte ratio), MPV (mean platelet volume), MPVPR (mean platelet volume to platelet ratio), LMR (lymphocyte to monocyte ratio), LPM (lymphocyte and platelet multiplication), WLP (lymphocyte and leukocyte multiplication), RDW (red blood cell distribution width) and PCT (plateletcrit) in BD and compare these with disease activity and clinical findings.Methods: A total of 266 participants (49 healthy control and 217 BD patients) were recruited from the rheumatology department in a single-centre as a case-control study. The laboratory data were obtained from the electronic registration database.BD Activity scores (BDCAF/Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form) were calculated. Laboratory findings of BD patients and healthy controls were compared and evaluated.Results: RDW, Platelet, PCT, NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in patient group than in the healthy controls. However, haemoglobin, MPVPR and LMR were significantly lower in the patient group which compared with the healthy controls.LPM in BD with genital ulcers, WLP in BD with genital ulcers and arthritis, MPR in BD with uveitis, RDW in BD with thrombosis and neuro-Behçet's disease (NBD), PLR in NBD were observed to be higher. However, LMR in NBD and MPV in BD with thrombosis were lower than those without. There was a positive correlation between BDCAF score and RDW, and NLR.

Background/Objective: Behçet disease (BD) is not a single unique entity but a syndrome with different clinical phenotypes that can involve arterial and venous vessels of all sizes. To date, there has been no specific test or serum marker to measure and determine the severity of BD, and diagnosis remains based on clinical findings. This study aimed to assess lower extremity venous wall thickness (VWT) measured by ultrasound and laboratory findings and diagnostic performance in patients with BD.Methods: A total of 106 participants were recruited from the rheumatology department in this single-center, case-control study. Participants meeting the eligibility criteria were divided into healthy controls (n = 52) and BD (n = 54). The VWT values of the common femoral vein, great saphenous vein, and popliteal vein were measured using ultrasonography. Laboratory data were obtained from the electronic registration database. Venous wall thicknesses and laboratory findings in patients with BD and healthy subjects were compared.Results: Venous wall thickness of the lower extremity veins was higher in the BD group and higher in those with a history of deep vein thrombosis than in those without. The mean leukocyte, monocyte, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, plateletcrit (PCT), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV) values, and monocyteto-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were higher in BD patients than in the control group. There was a correlation among increased VWT, ESR, PCT, MPV, RDW, and MLR.Conclusions: C-reactive protein, ESR, MPV, PCT, MLR, RDW, and VWT can be used to assist in the diagnosis of BD.

Background Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease characterized by short, repeated, and self-limiting attacks of fever and serositis. Subclinical inflammation can persist in the periods with no symptoms and result in amyloidosis even with colchicine treatment. Neopterin and calprotectin have been considered essential players in inflammation and immune response. Aim The study was aimed to measure serum levels of neopterin and calprotectin in patients with FMF in the attack-free period. Methods A total of 160 participants were recruited from the rheumatology department in this single-center, case–control study. Individuals having the inclusion criteria were divided into healthy controls ( n = 80) and FMF ( n = 80). The laboratory data were acquired from the electronic registration database. Serum calprotectin and neopterin were measured with ELISA test kits. FMF patients and healthy controls’ laboratory findings were compared. Results FMF patients’ serum red cell distribution width (RDW), calprotectin, and neopterin values were significantly higher compared to healthy controls. There were no statistically significant differences between calprotectin and neopterin regarding gender, family history, and colchicine response of the FMF patients. Conclusions Calprotectin, neopterin, and RDW can be valuable marker candidates to be used in the follow-up of subclinical inflammation in FMF patients.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive connective tissue disorder that features vascular injury and persistent fibrosis with an autoimmune background. The hypoxic state at the capillary caused by SSc can be assessed with several methods. This study thus investigated the capillary refill time (CRT) effectivity in evaluating peripheral circulation in SSc patients. Methods: This prospective, case-control study was conducted with SSc patients and gender and age-matched healthy controls. The CRT measurements were performed by a rheumatologist unaware of patients' records with a smartphone camera in the optimized test ambiance. A video processing software was then applied for the captured videos. Results: 61 patients with SSc and 60 controls participated in this study. According to disease involvement, the patients were then divided into diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) and limited cutaneous SSc. Mainly, CRT was prolonged in the patient group than in the control group. CRT was also prolonged in patients with pathological capillaroscopy patterns in the nail fold capillaroscopy (NFC), below 50 years old, or whose disease duration was over three years. Per disease involvement, patients in the dSSc group with pathologic NFC had prolonged CRT results and higher pulmonary artery pressure levels. The use of CRT for NFC positivity in patients with SSc was practicable (AUC: 0.717;95% CI 0.714-0.942; 83.95% accuracy; 67.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 21.7% negative predictive value, P=0.015). Conclusions: CRT is markedly prolonged in patients with SSc. Evaluating CRT with the NFC positivity may provide pulmonary progression predictable, notably in dSSc patients.