Egyptian Rheumatologist最新文献

{"title":"Serum netrin-1 levels in systemic sclerosis patients with capillary abnormalities","authors":"Yüksel Maraş ,&nbsp;Ahmet Kor ,&nbsp;Esra F Oğuz ,&nbsp;Alper Sarı ,&nbsp;Kevser Gök ,&nbsp;Ali Akdoğan","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.10.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, potentially destructive systemic autoimmune disease characterized by organ fibrosis and vasculopathy. Netrin-1 is associated with angiogenesis, inflammation, and apoptosis.</p></div><div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To assess the level of serum netrin-1 in SSc patients with capillary abnormalities and to evaluate its relation to disease manifestations.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>This study investigated the relationship between netrin-1 and fibrosis in 56 SSc patients<!--> <!-->and 58 matched control. The modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) was used to assess skin thickness. Serum netrin-1 level was quantitatively measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The study included 56 patients; 53 females and 3 males (F:M 17.7:1) with a mean age of 48·1 ± 13·6 years and disease duration of 13.01 ± 8·7 years. They were 43 (76.7 %) diffuse and 13 (23.3 %) limited subtypes. The median mRss was 6.58 ± 2.2. Raynaud’s disease was present in 50 % and interstitial lung disease in 57.1 %. The median netrin-1 level was significantly higher in SSc patients (268·8 pg/mL; 82·8-1006·6 pg/mL) than in the controls (108·6 pg/mL;21·02-351·5 pg/mL, p &lt; 0·0001). There was no significant difference in the serum netrin-1 levels in SSc patients with and without Raynaud’s disease (p = 0.55), interstitial lung disease (p = 0.18), anti-Scl70 positive antibodies (p = 0·78), and anti-centromere antibody (p = 0·493). Netrin-1 was significantly related to SSc (OR = 1·02, 95 %CI: 1·01 − 1·03, p &lt; 0·0001). At a cut-off value 126·3 pg/mL, netrin-1 would diagnose SSc (sensitivity 60·3%, specificity 94·6%, 95 %CI: 0·83 − 0·95, p &lt; 0·0001).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>SSc patients had significantly high levels of serum netrin-1 with a potential role in the pathophysiology of the disease.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49879954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 10 (TNFSF10) gene variants in systemic lupus erythematosus patients","authors":"Asmaa Kamal ,&nbsp;Rola A. Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Noha M. Abdel Baki ,&nbsp;Manal Mohamed Kamal","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.09.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) related apoptosis-inducing ligand <em>(TRAIL)</em> 1525 G &gt; A <strong>(</strong>TNF supefamily member 10; <em>TNFSF10,</em> rs1131568) and 1595 C &gt; T (<em>TNFSF10</em> rs1131580) genetic variants and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility in Egyptian patients and their relationship with clinical and laboratory outcomes of the disease.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>A total of 123 SLE patients and 110 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were tested for <em>TRAIL</em> 1525 G &gt; A and 1595 C &gt; T genotyping by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), followed by confirmation of random samples from each genotype by direct sequencing technique. Disease activity was determined using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The patients were 107 females and 16 males with mean age 32.87 ± 9.6 years. The median value of SLEDAI of the patients was 18 (12–27). The two genetic variants of <em>TRAIL</em>, 1525 G &gt; A and 1595 C &gt; T, were in complete linkage disequilibrium. There was a significant increase in the frequencies of combined genotypes (GA + AA)/(CT + TT) and A/T alleles of <em>TRAIL</em> 1525/1595 variants among SLE cases when compared with the control group (OR = 1.7, 95 % CI = 1.0 – 2.98, <em>p</em> = 0.048; OR = 1.7, 95 % CI = 1.1 – 2.8, <em>p</em> = 0.02, respectively). Additionally, the A/T variants of <em>TRAIL</em> 1525/1595 were associated with higher risks of developing lupus nephritis (OR = 2.6, 95 % CI = 1.2 – 5.7, <em>p</em> = 0.015) and higher disease activity (OR = 3.8, 95 % CI = 1.3 – 10.9, <em>p</em> = 0.010).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p><em>TRAIL</em> 1525 G &gt; A and 1595 C &gt; T gene variants confer susceptibility to SLE, which is significantly related to the clinical phenotypes of SLE and associated with higher disease activity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49800545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nail ridging in rheumatoid arthritis patients and relation to disease activity: An integrated rheumatology-dermatology multi-centre study","authors":"Hassan A.M. Elsonbaty ,&nbsp;Mohamed R. Mohamed ,&nbsp;Ahmed F. Ismael ,&nbsp;Osama M.O. Hegazy ,&nbsp;Eman M.S. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Amany S. El-Bahnasawy","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.06.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To evaluate the frequency of nail ridging (NR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to study its relation to disease activity.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>230 RA patients and 97 matched controls from Helwan, Ain Shams and Mansoura university hospitals were studied. Disease activity score (DAS28) was assessed. NR has been searched for in all patients. The number of affected fingers was recorded. NR was determined by a magnifying lens, seen by naked eye or seen and felt<strong>.</strong> Dermoscopic photography of the NR using Dermalite DL4 3Gen dermatoscope has been recorded.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The median age of patients was 49 years (42–58 years); they were 221 females and 19 males (F:M 11.1:1) with a disease duration 9 years (5–11 years). Their DAS28 was 3.6 (2.9–4.6). NR was significantly increased in RA cases vs. control; 73% vs 20%; p &lt; 0.001. In patients, NR was detected by a magnifying lens in 32.6%, seen in 27% and seen and felt in 13.5%. Joint deformities were significantly higher in those with NR. DAS28 was a significant independent predictor of NR; for every one-point increase in DAS28, there was a 153 times higher odds to exhibit NR at a sensitivity of 93.5%, specificity 80.3% and at a diagnostic accuracy of 90%.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>NR is a frequent finding in RA. An integrated rheumatological- dermatological clinical evaluation may be helpful and further studies are required to prove the importance of this sign for follow up of RA patients.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49800551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protein Z (rs3024735; G79A and rs3024719; G-103A) gene polymorphisms in Behçet’s disease patients","authors":"Marwa Mamdouh ,&nbsp;Manal Niazy ,&nbsp;Heba Gouda ,&nbsp;Samah Abd Elhamid ,&nbsp;Basma R. Sakr","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.09.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To investigate protein Z (PZ) gene polymorphic variations; PZ G79A (rs3024735) and PZ G-103A (rs3024719) in Behçet's disease (BD) patients and their possible relation with disease manifestations, activity and damage.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>This study included 100 BD patients and 100 controls. BD current activity form (BDCAF) and the BD damage index (BDI) were assessed. Genomic DNA analysis of PZ G79A (rs3024735) and PZ G-103A (rs3024719) single nucleotide polymorphisms, was assessed by Real-time PCR-TaqMan SNP genotyping assay.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The mean age of patients was 33.4 ± 6.8 years and median disease duration was 9 years. AA and GA genotypes of PZ G79A polymorphism were significantly higher in patients than controls (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004 respectively). The frequency of A allele was significantly higher in patients than controls (p &lt; 0.001). There was no difference between patients and controls regarding AA and GA genotypes of PZ G-103A polymorphism (p = 0.5 and p = 0.2 respectively). There was a significant association between AA and GA genotypes of PZ G79A polymorphism with retinal vascular occlusion (RVO) (p &lt; 0.001) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (p = 0.003), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (p &lt; 0.001) and BDI (p &lt; 0.001). There was no association between PZ G79A genotypes and BDCAF (p = 0.8). A allele of PZ G79A polymorphism was associated with increased BD susceptibility (p &lt; 0.001), RVO (p = 0.001) and DVT (p = 0.01).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>PZ G79A (rs3024735) polymorphism A allele was associated with increased susceptibility to BD with increased risk of developing RVO, DVT and damage, while AA and GA genotypes of PZ G-103A polymorphism were not significantly increased in BD patients.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49879953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thyroid dysfunction and anti-thyroid antibodies in systemic sclerosis patients","authors":"Nermeen A. Khairy,&nbsp;Mohamed M. El-Wakd,&nbsp;Reham M. Amin,&nbsp;Hanaa M. Rady","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.11.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To assess the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid auto-antibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>This study included thirty-three SSc patients and 30 matching controls. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), anti thyroglobulin (ATG) and anti thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (ATPO) were measured in the sera of patients and controls.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 13.05 years; 28 females and 5 males (F: M 5.6:1) and a disease duration of 4.58 ± 3.84 years. The FT3, FT4, TSH tended to be higher in patients (T3: 2.8 ± 0.66 pg/ml; T4: 1.5 ± 0.65 ng/ml; TSH: 1.9 ± 2.1<!--> <!-->ul/ml) than in controls (p = 0.07, p = 0.21 and p = 0.24 respectively) while the ATG level in patients was 40 ± 21.3 IU/ml and ATPO 36.7 ± 88.2 IU/ml. Four patients had hypothyroidism (12 %); 3 (9 %) subclinical hypothyroidism (SCHT) and 1 (3 %) clinical hypothyroidism (CHT). ATG was positive in one patient and in 2 controls while ATPO was positive in two patients compared to one control. Both antibodies were positive in one patient. ATPO was associated with SCHT in one (3 %) and with overt hypothyroidism in another (3 %). The thyroid profile, ATG and ATPO were comparable between females and males (p = 0.34, p = 0.23, p = 0.96, p = 0.77 and p = 0.35 respectively) and all were similar between lcSSc and dcSSc except TSH (lower in dcSSc; p = 0.03). Muscle weakness was significantly higher among ATPO positive patients (p = 0.005) while thyroid dysfunction was significantly associated with arthralgia (p = 0.007).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Thyroid dysfunction mainly hypothyroidism is more frequent among SSc patients.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49842341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical significance of interleukin-36 alpha and gamma in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Potential relation to disease activity and subclinical arthritis","authors":"Nora A Elsiss ,&nbsp;Mohammad K Senna ,&nbsp;Mohammed M. El Arman ,&nbsp;Eman A Hafez","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.09.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To assess serum of interleukin-36 alpha (IL-36α) and interleukin-36 gamma (IL-36γ) levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to explore their association with clinical and laboratory features of SLE and with ultrasound evidence of subclinical hand arthritis.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>The study included 84 SLE patients without overt arthritis and 84 matched controls. The serum levels of IL-36α and IL-36γ were measured and compared between patients and controls. The hands and wrists of all patients underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation for evidence of subclinical arthritis and tenosynovitis. The SLE disease activity score was assessed for all patients.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The mean of serum IL-36α (65.5 ± 38.9 pg/ml) and IL-36γ (468.9 ± 315.9 pg/ml) were significantly higher in SLE patients compared to controls (37.9 ± 17.2 pg/ml and 151.1 ± 73.4 pg/ml; p &lt; 0.001 each). IL-36α and IL-36γ had the ability to discriminate between SLE patients and controls with an AUC of 0.69 and 0.83 respectively. Serum IL-36α was significantly correlated with SLEDAI score (p = 0.04), synovitis (p &lt; 0.001),Us erosion score (p = 0.01) and PD signals score (p = 0.002). Serum IL-36γ was significantly correlated with serum creatinine level (p = 0.04). SLE patients with arthralgia had significantly higher IL-36α serum level than patients without (p = 0.04). SLE patients with proteinuria had significantly higher IL-36γ than those without (p = 0.04). The linear regression analysis model revealed that the US evidence of synovitis was the strongest factor associated with the serum level of IL-36α meanwhile proteinuria was the strongest factor associated with the serum level of IL-36γ.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>IL-36αserum level was significantly associated with SLEDAI score, arthralgia and US evidence of subclinical arthritis. IL-36γ serum level was significantly associated with proteinuria.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49800546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum beta2-microglobulin level in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Relation to disease activity","authors":"Nashwa T. Allam ,&nbsp;Maha A. Ali ,&nbsp;Doaa M. El-Abed ,&nbsp;Abeer M. Zahran","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.10.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To assess the level of β2-microglubulin (β2M) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and its association with disease activity and other disease parameters.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>40 SLE patients and 22 matched controls were studied. Serum β2M was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the damage index were assessed.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The patients were 36 females and 4 males (F:M 9:1) with a mean age of 28.5 ± 7.9 years and disease duration of 6.7 ± 3.3 years. The SLEDAI was 9.3 ± 5.2 and the damage index 1.83 ± 1.84. The mean level of serum β2M was significantly higher in SLE patients (6.42 ± 2.46 mg/L) than control (2.47 ± 0.4 mg/L) (p &lt; 0.01).The serum level of β2M was significantly higher in patients with nephritis (n = 22) (7.45 ± 2.47 mg/L) compared to those without (n = 18) (5.17 ± 1.82 mg/L)(p = 0.002), And it was similar in those with and without arthritis (7.24 ± 2.3 mg/L vs 5.88 ± 2.4 mg/L (p0.07).The β2M significantly correlated with disease activity (r = 0.86, p 0.001), serum creatinine (r = 0.52, p &gt; 0.001), urea (r = 0.63, p &lt; 0.001), 24 h urinary protein (r = 0.56, p &lt; 0.001), hematuria (r = 0.4, p &lt; 0.01) and pyuria (r = 0.41; p &lt; 0.01), ESR (r = 0.48; p &lt; 0.01) and inversely with hemoglobin level (r = −0.34; p = 0.03). No significant correlation was found with C-reactive protein or with disease damage. Serum (β2M) significantly predicted nephritis and disease activity (sensitivity 63.6 %, specificity 77.8 %; p &lt; 0.001 and 95 %CI: 0.25–0.41; p &lt; 0.001 respectively).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Serum β2M is significantly associated with disease activity and lupus nephritis, suggesting that serum β2M may serve as a potential biomarker to monitor the disease activity and predicting lupus nephritis. However its association to disease severity needs further longitudinal studies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49800553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in assessment of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients with fibromyalgia","authors":"Mai Sami ,&nbsp;Maha Nassr ,&nbsp;Nehal El-Ghobashy ,&nbsp;Siham Aly Metawie ,&nbsp;Samar M. Fawzy","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.08.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Fibromyalgia (FM) is frequently present in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and this can lead to an overestimation of disease activity and consequently overtreatment. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) can aid in evaluating synovitis for assessment of disease activity with more precision.</p></div><div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To verify the potential role of MSUS in the assessment of disease activity in RA patients with and without FM.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>This study was conducted on 100 active RA patients. Disease activity score (DAS28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were assessed. MSUS was assessed using the 12 joint simplified score.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The 100 patients were 88 females and 12 male (F:M 7.3:1) with a mean age of 44.82 ± 11.4 years and disease duration of 6.88 ± 5.77 years. 67 RA patients had associated secondary FM and 33 did not. DAS-28 and CDAI were significantly higher in those with FM (4.99 ± 0.82 and 30.49 ± 10.59) compared to those without (4.22 ± 0.96 and 18 ± 10.68)(p &lt; 0.001). Regarding ultrasonographic finding, no significant difference was found between those with and without FMS. DAS28 and CDAI significantly correlated (p = 0.006, p = 0.002 respectively) with grey scale ultrasound (GS-US12) in patients without FMS while DAS28 only significantly correlated with GS-US12 in those with FMS (r = 0.28, p = 0.022).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Secondary FM is common in RA patients and associated with a higher disease activity making it a potential influencer on the treatment strategy. MSUS can complement physical examination in the assessment of disease activity but had a limited role to delineate RA patients with FM from those without.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49800611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical significance of Galectin-1 and Galectin-4 in rheumatoid arthritis patients and their potential role as diagnostic markers","authors":"Lobna A. Maged ,&nbsp;Sara Saeed ,&nbsp;Walaa Abdelfattah ,&nbsp;Wafaa Gaber","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.11.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To investigate the utility of serum Galectin-1 (Gal-1) and Galectin-4 (Gal-4) as potential markers for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore their relationship with disease activity.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>Serum Gal-1 and Gal-4 of 60 RA patients were compared to 30 age and sex-matched controls. Potential relationship of both markers with disease activity assessed using Disease activity score-28 joints (DAS-28), seropositivity (Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)), functional classification assessed using modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ), radiographic progression assessed using Larsen score and treatment was investigated.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The study included 60 patients; 54 (90 %) females and 6 (10 %) males with a mean age of 42.6 ± 10.1 years and disease duration of 7.5 ± 6.4 years. Their mean DAS-28 was 4.6 ± 1.0, their MHAQ was 1 ± 0.5 and their Larsen score was 41.3 ± 9.9. The mean of Gal-1 and Gal-4 were both significantly lower in RA patients in comparison to control group (4.4 ± 1.5 ng/ml <em>vs</em> 38.1 ± 25.5 ng/ml and 1.2 ± 0.7 ng/ml; p &lt; 0.001<em>vs</em> 8.1 ± 7.0 ng/ml; p &lt; 0.001 respectively. At a cut off value ≤7.7 for Gal-1 and ≤2.3 for Gal-4 was successfully able to differentiate between RA patients and control group. There was no correlation between both Gal-1 &amp; Gal-4 and DAS-28, MHAQ, Larsen score, RF or ACPA titres.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Gal-1 &amp; 4 serum levels have a potential role as diagnostic markers in patients with RA. Both markers however cannot be regarded as disease activity or severity markers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49800680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in juvenile idiopathic arthritis","authors":"Ayman G. Elnahry ,&nbsp;Lameece M. Hassan ,&nbsp;Walaa Abdelrahman ,&nbsp;Mai N. Abd Elmohsen","doi":"10.1016/j.ejr.2022.11.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejr.2022.11.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim of the work</h3><p>To report optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and to study the relation to disease activity.</p></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>The study included 20 JIA patients (38 eyes) who underwent ophthalmologic and rheumatologic examination plus OCT/OCTA. Juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS27) was assessed, and patients were divided into those with no/low activity (group 1; n = 13) and moderate/severe activity (group 2; n = 7). OCTA findings were compared with 11 control (11 eyes).</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The study included 20 JIA-U patients (38 eyes) with a mean age of 10.7 ± 2.6 years and disease duration of 72.5 ± 34.7 months and they were 9/20 (45 %) females. 13(65 %) patients had no/mild activity (group 1, 25 eyes) while 7(35 %) had moderate to severe activity (group 2, 13 eyes). The mean foveal superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP/DCP) vascular density (VD) were significantly lower in patients with moderate/severe activity (3x3 scan: p = 0.001 and p &lt; 0.001; 6x6 scan p = 0.008 and p = 0.001 respectively). The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) 3x3 and 6x6 scans were significantly increased and the central macular thickness (CMT) decreased in patients with moderate/severe disease activity (p &lt; 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001). Fovea SCP VD in 6x6 and 3x3 scans were significantly different between JIA subtypes (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively), with less VD in oligoarticular type. FAZ, CMT and DCP-VD significantly correlated with visual analogue scale (r = 0.58, p &lt; 0.001; r = −0.5, p = 0.01; r = −0.58, p &lt; 0.001, respectively).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Non-invasive OCTA-derived vascular parameters of the macula could be potential biomarkers for evaluating the severity of the systemic disease activity in JIA patients.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46152,"journal":{"name":"Egyptian Rheumatologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49842342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}