Real-life data on the comorbidities in spondyloarthritis from our multicenter nationwide registry: BioStar.

Objectives: Considering that the comorbid situations during the management of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) have been underlined in several recommendations, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the comorbid conditions of Turkish patients with SpA. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 1,242 SpA patients (844 males, 398 females; mean age: 43.9±11.0 years; range, 19 to 81 years) diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis or the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. The patient data were collected from the Biologic and targeted Synthetic antirheumatic drugs Registry (BioStar) between February 1, 2019, and December 29, 2020. Clinical and demographic data, including, age, sex, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), pain, patient's global assessment, physician's global assessment, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, and Maastricht Enthesitis Score, were recorded. Comorbid conditions were recorded by filling out a questionnaire according to the clinical history or medical records. Charlson Comorbidity Index and Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index scores were calculated from the gathered comorbidity information. Results: Nine hundred thirteen patients had radiographic axial SpA, 153 had nonradiographic axial SpA, and 176 had peripheral SpA. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (HT) (n=167, 13.4%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (n=83, 6.7%), thyroid disorders (n=64, 5.6%), and depression (n=61, 4.9%). The comorbidities and the calculated comorbidity indices were significantly higher in females, in those with a BMI >25 kg/m2 , and those over 60 years of age. No relationship was found between smoking and alcohol use and comorbidities. A significantly higher prevalence of HT and DM in peripheral SpA patients and a lower prevalence of thyroid disorders in radiographic axial SpA patients were observed. Conclusion: The most commonly reported comorbidities were HT, DM, thyroid disorders, and depression in SpA patients according to the BioStar database. The frequency of comorbidities and composite comorbidity scores were higher among females, older (>60 years) patients, and overweight (BMI >25 kg/m2 ) patients.

Polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene promoter at position -1031 is associated with increased circulating levels of TNF-alpha, myeloperoxidase and nitrotyrosine in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which is associated with the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha -1031 gene polymorphism on circulating TNF-alpha, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitrotyrosine (NT) levels in primary Sjögren's syndrome patients. METHODS: TNF-alpha-1031 T/C gene polymorphism was evaluated in 65 Sjögren's syndrome patients and 58 age and gender matched controls via 5' nuclease PCR analysis. Plasma TNF-alpha and NT levels were analysed by ELISA while MPO activity, total nitrate/nitrite and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured by spectral analysis. RESULTS: TNF-alpha -1031 C carrier genotype frequency was significantly higher (p=0.045) in Sjögren patients compared to controls (23.1 vs. 10.3%, 0R= 2.83, 95% CI=0.27-7.8). Plasma TNF-alpha concentration and NT levels were also significantly higher in Sjögren patients with -1031 C carrier genotype compared to patients with TT genotype. Sjögren patients showed a significant increase in plasma MPO activity which correlated with both TNF-alpha and NT levels in subjects with -1031 C carrier genotype assessed by linear regression analysis. TNF-alpha-1031 T/C gene polymorphism had no effect on plasma nitrate/nitrite and GSH levels which were significantly decreased in Sjögren's syndrome patients compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene promoter at position -1031 is associated with increased circulating levels of TNF-alpha which is correlated with increased plasma MPO activity and protein nitration in Sjögren's syndrome.

Superior vena cava syndrome associated with Behcet's disease and 18 months' follow up: a case report.

Behcet's disease is a multisystemic disorder that the main pathological defect is vasculitis and superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) caused by vasculopathy is a rare manifestation of the disease. Although successful results of endovascular surgery were observed in some cases, medical therapy may have priority among the treatment alternatives because of the high risk of surgery due to the lesional localization of the vessel. In this report, a Behcet's disease case with SVCS and 18 months' follow-up data with medical therapy is presented.

A co-occurrence of sarcoidosis and ankylosing spondylitis: a case report.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory multi-system disease, which may cause articular involvement. By causing sacroiliitis, it may mimic spondyloarthropathies. A case with a co-occurrence of sarcoidosis and late-onset of typical ankylosing spondylitis was presented and a possible association between these two entities was discussed.