Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been reported previously. We aimed to evaluate the presence of metabolic syndrome and to assess the insulin resistance associated with chronic inflammation in patients with PsA. METHODS: Fifty-nine (34 females, 25 males) consecutive PsA patients were enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 82 (46 females, 36 males) healthy volunteers. All subjects were questioned about criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and also the modified World Health Organization (WHO) definition. Disease activity, damage, and functional activity were assessed by using functional indices [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), The Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire-function (MDHAQ-function), The Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire-Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data scores (MDHAQ-RAPID-3)]. Fasting blood samples were collected for complete biochemical analysis. RESULTS: According to the NCEP criteria, 21 (35.5%) of PsA patients and 12 (14.6%) of healthy controls were classified as having metabolic syndrome (P=0.004). According to the NCEP criteria, hypertension and hyperglycemia were more common in the PsA group than the healthy controls (P=0.000 and P=0.043, respectively). According to the WHO criteria, 14 (23.7%) of the patients and 14 (17%) of the healthy controls had metabolic syndrome (P=0.328). No correlation was observed between functional indices and cardiovascular risks factors that were among the metabolic syndrome components. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated an increase in the frequency of metabolic syndrome, which is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with PsA. Patients with PsA should be closely followed in terms of cardiovascular events, and aggressive treatment should be performed for both cardiovascular risk factors and the disease itself.

Effects of osteocytes on vibration-induced reflex muscle activity in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To assess whether osteocytes have an effect on reflex myoelectrical activity during whole-body vibration (WBV) in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were classified into 2 groups: the low bone mineral density (BMD) group (n = 37) and normal BMD group (n = 43). Hip BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Surface electromyography data recorded from the adductor longus muscle were processed to obtain vibration-induced reflex myoelectrical activity. Changes in plasma sclerostin (SOST) levels with WBV were expressed as a standardized vibration-induced SOST index. RESULTS: The standardized vibration-induced SOST index was 1.03 ± 0.24 in the low BMD group and 0.99 ± 0.33 in the normal BMD group. For plasma SOST levels, no group-by-time interaction was found. The resting myoelectrical activities of adductor muscles increased significantly during WBV in both groups. However, there was no significant difference in the main effects of WBV on resting myoelectrical activity between the groups. The standardized vibration-induced plasma SOST index was found to be a significant independent predictor of the standardized vibration-induced reflex myoelectrical activity of the adductor muscle in both groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that osteocytes serve as mechanoreceptors of reflex electromyography during WBV.

Determinants of early radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with early, extensive radiographic changes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Radiographic severity was assessed cross-sectionally in 235 patients with AS using the Bath AS Radiological Index spine score (BASRI-s). Patients with extensive radiographic changes on the lumbar portion of BASRI-s were defined as the early axial ankylosis (EAA) Group. ANCOVA and logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors affecting EAA. RESULTS: Most study patients were men (139/235, 59.0%). Mean disease duration was 12.4 ± 9.3 years. Fifteen percent of women and 34.8% of men with AS were in the EAA group. HLA-B27-positive men with AS had significantly higher BASRI-lumbar scores, while HLA-B27 had no effect on radiographic progression of axial disease in women with AS. Peripheral joint involvement was associated with slow radiographic progression. Hip involvement had no effect on axial progression but uveitis was more frequent in the male EAA group. The odds for an HLA-B27-positive male patient with AS who did not have peripheral arthritis of having a BASRI-lumbar score of 3 or higher were 3.4 (77% chance to have axially progressive disease). Presence of uveitis increased these odds to 93%. Only 15% of female patients with AS had EAA, and the absence of peripheral arthritis was the only clinical measure associated with EAA in this group. CONCLUSION: EAA was more frequent in men with AS than in women. Absence of peripheral arthritis, HLA-B27 positivity, and uveitis were associated with multiple syndesmophytes or fusion of multiple vertebrae of the lumbar vertebrae.

Mannose binding lectin levels are not related to radiographic damage in ankylosing spondylitis.

In the current study we aimed to investigate the effect of MBL deficiency in radiographic damage of the spine in a large group of AS patients. One hundred and ninety-one AS patients and 85 healthy controls were studied. Disease activity, radiological scores, and demographic features were recorded. MBL levels were measured with standard ELISA kits. Results showed that median MBL levels in AS and healthy controls were 2,530 (range 0-5,861) ng/ml and 3,415 (0-7,950) ng/ml, respectively (p = 0.1). MBL deficiency (<500 ng/ml) was comparable in both groups (%21.5 in AS, % 17.6; p = 0.5). Disease activity, clinical picture, and therapies were not associated with MBL levels. Both BASRI and mSASSS scores were found similar in AS patients with or without MBL deficiency [BASRI: MBL < 500 ng/ml: 6(2-12), MBL >or= 500 ng/ml: 6(2-12); p = 0.75], [mSASSS: MBL < 500 ng/ml: 3(0-72), MBL >or= 500 ng/ml: 5(0-72); p = 0.81]. We conclude that MBL deficiency prevalence is not increased in AS patients and it is not a cause of a severe radiographic damage.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type-IS presenting with onset of carpal tunnel syndrome at adolescence.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) results from deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-L iduronidase. Three subtypes, based on severity of clinical findings, have been described, of which MPS type IS (also called Scheie syndrome) is the mildest form. A woman (age, 30 years) and her little brother (age, 21 years) presented to our clinic complaining of atrophy of the thenar muscles, numbness in both hands, and contractures in the finger joints. Electrophysiologic examination showed severe carpal tunnel syndrome for both patients. Findings of cardiac and ocular involvements and decreased level of alpha-L iduronidase confirmed the diagnosis of Scheie syndrome. Enzyme replacement therapy was initiated for the further prevention of musculoskeletal and other organ complications. Delayed diagnosis of MPS type-IS and the musculoskeletal findings are discussed in these 2 familial patients.

Comparison of therapeutic effects of sodium hyaluronate and corticosteroid injections on trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.

This was a randomized, open-label, evaluator-blinded clinical study including 40 women with stage II or III trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. The steroid group (n = 20) received one injection of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide once and the hyaluronate group (n = 20) received three injections of 5 mg sodium hyaluronate at 1-week intervals. The pain level was assessed using a visual analog scale and grip and pinch strengths were measured using a hand grip dynomemeter and pinch gauge. The Duruöz Hand Index was used to evaluate hand function. Pain level decreased significantly over 12 months for the steroid group and over 6 months for the sodium hyaluronate group. Pinch strength did not improve in either group, but grip strength improved significantly in both groups. Hand function improved in both groups but it was only significant in the steroid group. Our findings showed that both intra-articular injection of steroid and sodium hyalurunate are effective in trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. However the steroid injection was found to be superior to sodium hyaluronate injection in reducing pain and improving hand function.

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis and segmental motor paresis following herpes zoster.

We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who complained of acute onset of pain and weakness of her left shoulder and proximal arm muscles 3 weeks after a diagnosis of herpes zoster. Electromyography revealed involvement of the C5-6 myotomes and the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Chest X-ray and electromyographic studies documented paralysis of the left diaphragm. One year after onset, muscle strength returned to normal, but radiographic and electrophysiologic findings of diaphragm paralysis were unchanged.