ABSTRACT
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic inflammatory disease. Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) is a unique gene product able to reduce collagen deposition. The present study aimed to assess CTHRC1 level in RA patients and to uncover its relation to clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. Methods: The study included 60 adult RA patients. In addition, there were 60 control subjects who included patients with osteoarthritis (n = 20) and reactive arthritis (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20). Serum CTHRC1 levels were assessed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Disease activity was calculated using the Disease Activity Score (DAS28-CRP). Radiological damage was evaluated using the Simple Erosion Narrowing Score (SENS). Results: There was significantly higher serum CTHRC1 levels in RA patients when compared to OA, ReA and control groups [median (IQR): 4.66 (1.68-11.7) versus 1.88 (1.14-2.94), 1.55 (0.98-3.15) and 1.14 (0.85-1.3) mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.001]. There was significantly higher CTHRC1 levels in patients with higher disease activity [median (IQR): 2.23 (1.4-4.73) versus 6.55 (4.66-12.0) mg/dL, p = 0.004]. Patients with higher SENS had significantly higher CTHRC1 [median (IQR): 1.99 (1.4-4.66) versus 9.75 (4.39-12.63) mg/dL, p < 0.001] and DAS28 [median (IQR): 4.25 (2.9-5.2) versus 5.4 (4.65-5.8), p = 0.01]. Conclusion: Serum CTHRC1 levels are related to disease severity and radiological affection in RA patients.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Behçet disease (BD) is a rare chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory systemic vasculitis. BD patients were reported to have marked acceleration of subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA). Endocan is a soluble proteoglycan mainly secreted by the activated endothelium. The present study aimed to assess the relation between serum endocan levels and SCA in BD patients. Subjects and Methods: The study included 40 adult BD patients in addition to twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. BD was diagnosed according to International Study Group criteria. Upon recruitment, all participants were subjected to careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. BD activity was assessed using Behçet Syndrome Activity Score. Measurement of serum endocan was performed using quantitative double-antibody sandwich ELISA kit. CIMT measurement was done using B-mode ultrasound. Results: Comparison between patients and controls regarding serum endocan levels revealed significantly higher endocan levels in BD patients [median (IQR): 155.0 (69.3-610.0) versus 73.8 (51.9-94.6)]. Using ultrasound assessment, SCA was found in 14 BD patients (35.0%). Comparison between patients with SCA and patients without regarding the clinical and laboratory data revealed that the former group had significantly higher CRP [median (IQR): 36.5 (26.8-43.5) versus 21.0 (11.8-26.8) mg/dL, p < 0.001] and endocan [median (IQR): 622.0 (107.4-974.8) versus 104.5 (64.0-342.0) mg/dL, p = 0.004] levels. Logistic regression analysis recognized endocan [OR (95% CI): 1.0 (1.0-1.012), p0.035] levels as significant predictor of SCA in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The present study identified the clinical value of serum endocan levels as a possible early marker of vascular involvement in BD patients.
