ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The anti-aging protein alpha-Klotho has been reported to have an emerging role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). More studies are needed to approach this issue. This study aimed to assess the serum levels of αKlotho in SSc patients compared to healthy controls, and to correlate them with the disease parameters. METHODS: Forty-two SSc patients were included in this study. History taking, clinical examination, and related investigations were performed. The modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) was used to assess skin tightness in SSc patients. Twenty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy participants served as controls. Serum αKlotho was assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: SSc patients comprised 39 females and 3 males; mean age was 42.2⯱ 12.1 years and mean disease duration 8.5⯱ 6.3 years. Serum αKlotho levels were decreased in scleroderma patients in comparison to healthy controls (pâ¯< 0.001). Scleroderma patients who had higher frequencies of telangiectasias and digital ischemic lesions had higher serum αKlotho levels (pâ¯= 0.01 and pâ¯= 0.04, respectively). By simple regression, only telangiectasias were significantly associated with higher αKlotho levels (pâ¯= 0.01). No other significant relationships were found between serum αKlotho and SSc disease parameters. CONCLUSION: Scleroderma patients had significantly lower serum αKlotho levels than healthy controls. Higher αKlotho levels were significantly associated with telangiectasias. An imbalance in serum αKlotho levels may be involved in systemic sclerosis. Further longitudinal studies in a larger population of systemic sclerosis patients may provide a clearer clue for its role.