Hematological indices in psoriatic enthesopathy: relation to clinical and ultrasound evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Enthesopathy is considered a crucial aspect of assessment and outcome in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is a critical tool for accurately detecting enthesitis. Recent research focuses on identifying simple biomarkers for detecting and monitoring psoriatic enthesopathy. Red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are components of a complete blood count (CBC) and are reliable bio-inflammatory markers in various rheumatic diseases. AIM OF WORK: To measure MPV, RDW, and NLR in psoriatic enthesopathy and determine their relationship to disease activity and MSUS findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study focused on 30 people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) as per CASPAR criteria, along with 20 control subjects. Enthesopathy was evaluated clinically using the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI). The modified Disease Activity Index of Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA28) was calculated, and RDW, MPV, NLR, CRP, and ESR were measured. Each enthesis in LEI was radiologically assessed using plain radiography and MSUS according to OMERACT definitions. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between clinical tenderness, the presence of enthesophytes on plain radiography, and MSUS findings at entheses sites (p < 0.001 for each). Psoriatic patients had higher levels of RDW and MPV (p < 0.001 and 0.01, respectively) than controls, with no significant differences in NLR (p = 0.189) between the two groups. RDW and MPV levels were positively correlated with the DAPSA28 score. CONCLUSION: Monitoring PsA disease activity can be improved by considering RDW and MPV as reliable indicators and using them to screen for psoriatic enthesopathy with MSUS indices. Key points • Clinically identifying enthesitis in patients with PsA can be challenging. Imaging MSUS indices hold promise for objective analysis, but there is no consensus on which indices to use in clinical trials and daily practice. • Patients with psoriatic enthesopathy have higher RDW and MPV levels, which are positively correlated with DAPSA28 score. • RDW and MPV can be considered in the turn of improved screening of psoriatic enthesopathy with MSUS scores.

Association between Q192R polymorphism in the PON1 gene and statin responses in cardiac patients.

INTRODUCTION: Paraoxonases are a group of different forms enzymes that consist of three non-similar isoforms, PON1, PON2 and PON3, which are located near to each other on the long arm of chromosome7. This study aims to investigate the association of a Q192R polymorphism of PON1 gene and statin response in patients with ischemic heart disease with dyslipidemia. METHODS: The studied population included three hundred patients with coronary artery disease with dyslipidemia who were prescribed statins. Total lipid profile was measured in these patients both before and after approximately 6 months of treatment. Q192R polymorphism of PON1 gene was assessed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline lipid levels according to different genotypes in all studied casesof Q192R (rs662) polymorphism. HDL-C goals were attained less often in patients with RR homozygosity than in Q allele carriers. Analysis by univariate logistic regression confirmed that QQ/QR carriers had an increased chance of attaining HDL-C goals. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the Q192R polymorphism of PON1gene has important role in interindividual variety in accomplishment of HDL-C goals in response to statins.