Sleep quality in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) on sleep quality and investigate the association between sleep quality and clinical parameters of PsA, quality of life and psychological state in patients with PsA. METHOD: Forty-one patients with PsA and 38 healthy volunteers were included in this study. In both patients and healthy controls, sleep quality was assessed by means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression were assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In addition, PsA Quality of Life (PsAQoL) Index and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were used on patients. Generalized pain was assessed by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction and total PSQI scores were significantly higher in patients with PsA compared to healthy controls. Total PSQI scores significantly correlated with anxiety, generalized pain, PsAQoL scores, enthesitis and levels of C-reactive protein (CPR) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P < 0.05). Also, multiple regression analysis indicated that ESR level was independently associated with total PSQI score (P < 0.05, R2  = 0.325). CONCLUSION: Sleep quality is diminished in patients with PsA. Sleep disturbance is particularly associated with generalized pain, anxiety, enthesitis and levels of CRP and ESR in patients carrying the diagnosis of PsA.

Serum levels of high mobility group box 1 protein and its association with quality of life and psychological and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia.

AIM: High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a proinflammatory cytokine. Previous studies have suggested that HMGB1 can play an important role in the pathogenesis of many rheumatic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the serum levels of HMGB1 in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and its association with quality of life and psychological and functional status in these patients. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients who met the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classification of FM and 29 healthy controls (HC) were included in the present study. Serum samples were collected from both the patients and the HC, and HMGB1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was used to assess the disease severity and functional status in patients with FM. Furthermore, the Nottingham Health Profile was used to assess quality of life in all subjects, as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess depression and anxiety. RESULTS: The serum levels of HMGB1 protein were positively correlated with the FIQ scores in patients with FM (P = 0.002). Mean serum levels of HMGB1 were higher in patients with FM than in HC but this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: HMGB1 protein might be a good laboratory-sourced candidate for the assessment of functional status and disease severity in patients with FM.

Serum prolidase activity in ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to emphasize the collagen turnover in 2 of the most common chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases by evaluating serum prolidase activity (SPA) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 30 patients who met the modified New York Criteria for the classification of AS, 29 patients who met the 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria for the classification of RA, and 31 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum samples of the patients and the controls were collected and SPA was measured by a spectrophotometric method. The comparison of the SPA in these 3 groups was statistically examined. In both patient groups, the SPA was lower than in the control group. SPA in patients with AS was statistically significantly lower than in the control and RA groups (P < 0.001/P = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was found between the RA and the control groups (P = 0.891). In conclusion, lower SPA is presumably associated with decreased collagen turnover and fibrosis, leading to decreased physical functions in both chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases.