Azathioprine-induced lymphoma in a patient with Takayasu arteritis: A case report from Iraq.

Key Clinical Message: Azathioprine, used for vasculitis and connective tissue diseases, carries long-term cancer risks. This case report raises awareness among healthcare providers about such risks and emphasizes the need for taking necessary precautions to avoid them while treating such diseases. Abstract: We present an Azathioprine-induced lymphoma case in a 51-year-old male patient with Takayasu arteritis who presented with painless cervical swelling, itching, weight loss, and decreased appetite. This case report aims to increase awareness of the potential long-term cancer risks associated with azathioprine use in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios as potential markers of disease activity in patients with Ankylosing spondylitis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have the potential to be inflammatory markers that reflect the activity of many inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NLR and PLR as potential markers of disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: The study involved 132 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 81 healthy controls matched in terms of age and gender. Their sociodemographic data, disease activity scores using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts were recorded. The patients with ankylosing spondylitis were further divided according to their BASDAI scores into patients with inactive disease (BASDAI < 4) and patients with active disease (BASDAI ≥4). The correlations between the NLR, PLR and disease activity were analysed. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the NLR and PLR between the active and inactive ankylosing spondylitis patients (2.31 ± 1.23 vs. 1.77 ± 0.73, p = 0.002), (142.04 ± 70.98 vs. 119.24 ± 32.49, p <  0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in both the NLR and PLR between the healthy control group and ankylosing spondylitis patients (p > 0.05). In addition, the PLR was significantly higher in both the active and inactive groups compared to those in the healthy control group (142.04 ± 70.98 vs. 99.32 ± 33.97, p = 0.014), (119.24 ± 32.49 vs. 99.32 ± 33.97, p = 0.019). The BASDAI scores were positively correlated with the PLR (r = 0.219, p = 0.012) and the NLR, but they were not statistically significant with the later (r = 0.170, p = 0.051). Based on the ROC curve, the best NLR cut-off value for predicting severe disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis patients was 1.66, with a sensitivity of 61.8% and a specificity of 50.6%, whereas the best PLR cut-off value was 95.9, with a sensitivity of 70.9% and a specificity of 55.5%. CONCLUSION: The PLR may be used as a useful marker in the assessment and monitoring of disease activity in AS together with acute phase reactants such as the ESR.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios as potential markers of disease activity in patients with Ankylosing spondylitis: a case-control study

Abstract Background: The neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have the potential to be inflammatory markers that reflect the activity of many inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NLR and PLR as potential markers of disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: The study involved 132 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 81 healthy controls matched in terms of age and gender. Their sociodemographic data, disease activity scores using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts were recorded. The patients with ankylosing spondylitis were further divided according to their BASDAI scores into patients with inactive disease (BASDAI < 4) and patients with active disease (BASDAI ≥4). The correlations between the NLR, PLR and disease activity were analysed. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the NLR and PLR between the active and inactive ankylosing spondylitis patients (2.31 ± 1.23 vs. 1.77 ± 0.73, p = 0.002), (142.04 ± 70.98 vs. 119.24 ± 32.49, p < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in both the NLR and PLR between the healthy control group and ankylosing spondylitis patients (p > 0.05). In addition, the PLR was significantly higher in both the active and inactive groups compared to those in the healthy control group (142.04 ± 70.98 vs. 99.32 ± 33.97, p = 0.014), (119.24 ± 32.49 vs. 99.32 ± 33.97, p = 0.019). The BASDAI scores were positively correlated with the PLR (r = 0.219, p = 0.012) and the NLR, but they were not statistically significant with the later (r = 0.170, p = 0.051). Based on the ROC curve, the best NLR cut-off value for predicting severe disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis patients was 1.66, with a sensitivity of 61.8% and a specificity of 50.6%, whereas the best PLR cut-off value was 95.9, with a sensitivity of 70.9% and a specificity of 55.5%. Conclusion: The PLR may be used as a useful marker in the assessment and monitoring of disease activity in AS together with acute phase reactants such as the ESR.

Serum adiponectin level in osteoporotic postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health burden worldwide. Patients with type 2 DM has various complications, including impaired bone health. Adiponectin is novel adipocytokine that could influence bone metabolism. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationships between serum adiponectin versus lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) in type 2 diabetic osteoporotic postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a case control study included 90 postmenopausal women; divided as (group A) composed of 30 type 2 diabetic osteoporotic postmenapausal,(group B) composed of 30 non diabetic osteoporotic postmenopausal and 30 apparently healthy non osteoporotic postmenopausal women as a control group. All participants underwent Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry to measure the lumbar Bone Mineral Density (BMD).Serum adiponectin was measured by ELISA Kits. SPSS was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Among the studied subjects, group B showed a significant negative correlation between serum adiponectin and lumbar BMD. The diabetic osteoporotic postmenapausal group (group B) showed the lowest concentration of serum adiponectin (µg/mL): 5.14 compared with 11.02 and 8.63 in group A, and the control, respectively. Lumbar BMD of group B was significantly higher than that of group A. CONCLUSIONS: Serum adiponectin is associated with lumber BMD in diabetic osteoporotic postmenopausal women. These findings suggest that serum adiponectin was involved in bone metabolism in this group.