Aims: we aimed to investigate whether red cell distribution width (RDW) can also be used for the assessment of disease activity in Behcet's disease (BD). Methods and results: Forty patients with active BD and seventy patients with inactive BD were included in the study. Forty-six healthy volunteers constituted the control group. Hematological parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were analyzed by standard methods. All the individuals underwent comprehensive echocardiographic examination. Echocardiographic parameters of the study population were similar all groups. ESR, CRP and RDW were significantly higher in active BD patients than in inactive BD patients and controls (33.6±22 vs 15.7±9 vs 5±4.1, 23.4±21.6 vs 5.5±6.2 vs 1.2±0.5 and 17.2±2.5 vs 14.4±1.9 vs 13.2±0.5, p<0.0001 for all, respectively). Moreover, we also found that ESR, CRP and RDW were significantly higher in inactive BD patients when compared with the controls (15.7±9 vs 5±4.1, 5.5±6.2 vs 1.2±0.5 and 14.4±1.9 vs 13.2±0.5, p<0.0001 for all, respectively). There were modest positive correlations between RDW and disease duration (r=0.320, P=0.001). Conclusion: We demostrated that RDW significant increased in active and inactive BD patients without cardiac involvement. In addition, our study has established that RDW can be used to determine the disease activity state of BD.
Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and systemic disease of unknown etiology that primarily affects synovial joints and involves progressive destruction around the joints. Inflammation starting in the joint synovium causes the destruction of cartilage, bone and other adjacent tissues with pannus formation. Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels and their clinical and radiological significance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Material and methods. The study included 59 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls. Serum MMP-3 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Patients with a Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) ≤3.2 were categorized as having lower disease activity, while a DAS28 score >3.2 indicated patients with moderate/high disease activity. Additionally, the patients were divided into 2 groups in terms of disease duration: early RA (disease duration ≤2 years) and established RA (disease duration ≥2 years). Functional disability was evaluated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Radiographs were scored using modified Larsen scoring. Results. Serum MMP-3 levels in patients with RA were significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.001). Serum MMP-3 levels were correlated with laboratory and clinical parameters of disease activity, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), DAS28, and HAQ score; the exceptions were rheumatoid factor (RF) and cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP). The serum MMP-3 levels of RA patients with moderate/high disease activity were found to be significantly higher than those of the patients with low disease activity (p < 0.001). However, MMP-3 levels were found to be similar in both established and early RA patients (p = 0.927). Additionally, the modified Larsen scores, which indicate structural damage, correlated significantly with serum MMP-3 levels (p = 0.001). Conclusions. These results indicate that serum MMP-3 levels may be used as an indicator for structural damage such as erosions in the early stages of the disease, and to monitor disease activity.
ObjectivesHeat-shock proteins (HSPs) have gained increased interest for their role in autoimmune disorders. These proteins are targeted by the immune system in various autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the serum heat-shock protein-65 antibody (anti-HSP65) levels and their clinical significance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Patients and methodsA total of 30 patients with RA, 30 patients with AS, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All patients were assessed using routine clinical and laboratory evaluations. Serum anti-HSP65 levels were determined by ELISA.ResultsSerum anti-HSP65 levels of both RA and AS patients were significantly higher than those of controls (p=0.014 and p=0.001, respectively). No association was found between serum anti-HSP65 levels and disease activity in either RA or AS patients. There was a significant correlation between anti-HSP65 and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide levels in patients with RA (p=0.024).ConclusionIn this study, serum anti-HSP65 levels were increased, but not associated with disease activity in both RA and AS patients. These results suggest that HSP antigens may play a role in the pathogenesis. However, further follow-up studies are needed. Identification of target antigens such as HSP65 is vital to developing new immunotherapeutic agents.
Objective: The aim of this study is to group patients with plantar heel pain and calcaneal spurs detected via lateral foot x-rays based on the angle between the spur and the calcaneus and compare the efficacy of an Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) treatment between these groups. Materials and Methods: The patients were divided into three groups based on the measurement the angle between the plantar calcaneal spur and the calcaneus. Those with a measured angle of <30° were classified as Group 1, ranging between 30–60° as Group 2, and >60° as Group 3. Demographic characteristics, spur length, visual analog scale (VAS) and foot function index score (FFI), and pain and function evaluation were used as the pre-and posttreatment data in each group. Results: Out of the 170 patients, 96 (56.5%) were included in Group 1, 65 (38.2%) were in Group 2, and 9 (5.3%) in Group 3. The posttreatment VAS and FFI scores of the patients were significantly lower than the pretreatment scores (p < 0,001). It was determined that the highest and lowest VAS and FFI score changes in the posttreatment period was in Group 3 and Group 1, respectively. In the correlation analysis, a positive correlation was found between the measured angle value and pretreatment VAS and FFI scores, age, and spur length. Conclusion: ESWT is an effective treatment method for calcaneal spurs, but further studies are needed on PCS classifications and the efficacy of the treatment selected based on these classifications.
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