ABSTRACT
Background/aim: Seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are a group of chronic diseases characterized by axial inflammation, oligoarthritis, and enthesitis. Oxidative stress may contribute to a wide range of rheumatologic diseases, including SpA. This prospective case-control study was designed to compare thiol-disulfide levels as a marker of oxidative stress between SpA patients and healthy controls. Materials and methods: A total of 144 patients diagnosed with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (USpA, n = 97) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS, n = 47) were included along with 80 healthy controls. Serum native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), and disulfide (D) levels were measured using the fully automated Erel method. The ratios NT/TT, D/TT, and D/NT were calculated. Thiol-disulfide levels were compared between the SpA groups and the healthy controls. Results: The NT and NT/TT ratios were found to be significantly lower in the SpA group (p < 0.001). The disulfide, D/NT, and D/TT ratios were found to be significantly higher in the SpA group (p < 0.001). In pairwise comparisons between the SpA subgroups, the NT and TT levels were lower in the USpA group than in the AS group (p = 0.021), but serum disulfide levels were higher in the USpA group than in the AS group (p = 0.004). Among the patients with SpA, the group taking antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) had lower TT measurements compared to the group taking conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The thiol-disulfide balance is disturbed in favor of disulfide in SpA patients compared to healthy volunteers. Native and total thiol measurements correlate with acute phase reactants and might be used to monitor disease activity. Anti-TNF therapy might control the oxidative degenerative process better than the conventional DMARD in SpA patients.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients determined with asymptomatic cholelithiasis and to investigate any potential correlation between these thiol-disulphide parameters and HDL cholesterol. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive, comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Ankara City Hospital between 15 September and 31 December 2019. METHODOLOGY: This study included 42 patients aged 18-70 years, who presented at the Gastroenterology Clinic and were diagnosed with cholelithiasis on ultrasound examination. A control group was formed of 51 healthy volunteers aged 18-70 years. Thiol/disulphide homeostasis and HDL cholesterol was noted and compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean age was 44.16 ± 13.35 years in cholelithiasis patient group and 31.88±13.27 years in the control group. The triglyceride, VLDL, total cholesterol/HDL, and non-HDL levels were significantly higher and HDL level was significantly low in the patient group (both p <0.05). Regarding thiol-disulphide balance, native thiol, total thiol, and albumin values were found to be statistically significantly low in the patient group (p <0.05), and the IMA, index-1, index-2, and index-3 values were significantly high (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The oxidant/antioxidant balance shifted towards oxidation in patients with asymptomatic gallstones. The non-HDL value was increased. There was a positive correlation between the thiol-disulphide parameters and the non-HDL value. The increasing non-HDL amount could be effective in the pathogenesis of gallstone disease by disrupting the oxidative balance. KEY WORDS: Cholelithiasis, Thiol-disulphide homeostasis, Lipid profile, Non-HDL, HDL, Oxidative stress.
