A linear relationship between serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein and hemoglobin in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory process in hemodialysis patients involves hematopoiesis. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of inflammation with hemoglobin in patients under hemodialysis. METHODS: Patients under maintenance hemodialysis for more than 3 months were studied. Serum high-sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) was measured by immunoturbidimetric method and hemoglobin < 11 g/dl was considered as anemia. Iron deficiency anemia was confirmed by percent transferrin saturation < 20 %. Correlation coefficient, linear regression and odds ratio (OR) were used to determine the relationship. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients aged 50 ± 16.9 years with median hemodialysis duration of 24 (3-280) months entered the study. High serum hs-CRP (> 5 mg/l) was found in 42 (57.5 %) and anemia in 32 (43.8 %) patients. High CRP was significantly associated with anemia OR = 20.8 (95 % CI 5.35-81, p = 0.001). After adjustment for age, dialysis duration, blood indices and serum albumin, the odds of anemia in the high CRP group remained at a significant level of 16.7 (95 % CI 3.7-75, p = 0.001). Hemoglobin levels conversely correlated with serum hs-CRP (r = -0.607, r (2) = 0.36, p = 0.001). In linear regression analysis for each 1 mg/l increase in serum hs-CRP, hemoglobin value increased by 12.4 % (p = 0.002). Serum iron at cutoff level of 54 µg/dl discriminated patients with and without iron deficiency anemia with sensitivity of 93.3 %, specificity of 84 % and accuracy of 90 % (AUC ± SE = 0.901 ± 0.04 (95 % CI, 0.805-0.998, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that in hemodialysis patients, the inflammatory process alters hemoglobin level in converse correlation with CRP concentration with a linear relationship pattern. Serum iron <54 µg/dl indicates iron deficiency anemia with high accuracy.

Bone mineral density loss in postmenopausal onset rheumatoid arthritis is not greater than premenopausal onset disease.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal onset rheumatoid arthritis (post-RA) is expected to have greater bone mineral density (BMD) loss than premenopauasal onset (pre-RA) due to estrogen deficiency and aging. This study aimed to compare the BMD status of the two RA groups with age-matched non-RA controls. METHODS: The patients with RA on follow-up examination were stratified according to age of onset. Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD (FN-BMD and LS-BMD) were assessed by DXA method. The patients of the two groups were compared with non-RA controls in regard to BMD gr/cm(2) and the risk of osteoporosis (OP). RESULTS: Forty-eight post-RA and 94 pre-RA were compared with 31 and 57 age-matched controls. FN-BMD gr/cm(2) and LS-BMD gr/cm(2) in both groups of RA was significantly lower than the controls (P=0.001 for all). In post-RA, FN-BMDgr/cm(2) was 16% lower than controls versus 21% in pre-RA, whereas, LS-BMD reductions were 5% and 12%, respectively (P=NS). FN-OP was observed in 32(68%) and 9 (29%) post-RA and controls (P=0.001) versus 29 (30.8%) and 4 (7%) pre-RA and controls, respectively (P=0.001). Corresponding percentages for LS-OP in post-RA and controls were (37.5% vs 35.5%, P=0.52) and in pre-RA and controls were (21.3% vs 3.5%, P=0.002), respectively. Risk of osteoporosis at either measurement sites of FN or LS in post-RA increased by the adjusted odds of 1.54(95% CI, 0.60-3.9, P=0.36) and in pre-RA by the adjusted odds of 5 (95% CI, 1.78-14.5, P=0.002), respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that BMD loss in post-RA is not greater than pre-RA as expected. It is possible that estrogen deficiency by modulating immunologic reactions compensates the negative effects of estrogen deprivation on bone mass in post-RA patients.

Relationship between unexplained arthralgia and vitamin D deficiency: a case control study.

Arthralgia is a common presenting symptom of many rheumatic diseases. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to progression of skeletal symptoms to definite disease in susceptible subjects. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and unexplained arthralgia. Patients with arthralgia not related to a definite clinical condition were selected prospectively among subjects presented to a rheumatology clinic. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) was measured by ELISA method and levels less than 20 ng/ml were considered as deficient levels. Serum 25-OHD levels and proportion of 25-OHD deficiency was compared in patients versus control. The association of serum 25-OHD and arthralgia was assessed by calculation of odds ratio (OR) using regression analysis. 167 patients with mean age of 38 ± 13.3 and 283 controls with mean age of 42.6±14.37 years (P=0.001) were studied. In patients mean serum 25-OHD was lower and proportion of deficiency was higher (P=0.001 for both).Serum 25-OHD deficiency was associated with 3.01 times increased risk of arthralgia (OR=3.01, 95% CI, 2.0- 4.25, P=0.001). After adjusment for age and sex, the risk of arthralgia remained significan at OR= 2.71(95%CI, 1.79-4.11,P=0.001).The odds of arthralgia decreased with increasing serum 25-OHD from OR=3.48 (95% CI,197-6,P=0.001) at serum <10 ng/ml to 3.39 (95%CI,1.93-5.98, P=0.001) at 10-19.9; and 1.31 (95%CI, 0.69-2.5, P=0.42) at 20-29.9 ng/ml. These findings indicate significant association of vitamin D deficiency and arthralgia. Regarding vitamin D deficiency as an environmental factor for development or progression of rheumatic diseases, this study justifies identification and correction of vitamin D deficiency in patients with arthralgia.

Association between serum vitamin D deficiency and knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) influence the knee joint cartilage and lead to development and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to determine the status of serum 25-OHD levels in patients with knee OA compared with controls. METHODS: A total of 148 patients with knee OA and 150 controls were studied. Serum 25-OHD was measured by the ELISA method and concentrations <20 ng/ml were considered as deficient levels. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons of means and logistic regression analysis with calculation of odds ratio (OR) was applied to determine association. RESULTS: The mean ages of patients and controls were 60.2 ± 12.9 and 60.1 ± 10.2 years, respectively (P = 0.23). In the entire population the mean serum 25-OHD in OA patients was not significantly lower than controls (P = 0.28), but in subgroup analysis the mean 25-OHD in OA patients aged <60 years was significantly lower than controls (23.8 ± 18.8 vs. 34.5. ± 29.6 ng/ml, P = 0.01). In this age group knee OA was significantly associated with serum 25-OHD deficiency which remained significant after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted OR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.15-4.4, P = 0.018). A greater association was observed in patients aged < 55 years (OR = 2.63, 95% CI 1.16-5.95, P = 0.01); whereas the association between OA and serum 25-OHD deficiency in patients aged ≥60 years did not reach a significant level. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a significant association between serum 25-OHD deficiency and knee OA in patients aged < 60 years and suggest serum 25-OHD measurement in any patient with symptoms suggestive of knee OA particularly at the initial stage of disease.

Rheumatologic manifestations of brucellosis.

Brucellosis, an endemic disease in certain parts of the world is usually accompanied by osteoarticular involvement. The present study was performed to determine the types and frequency of rheumatologic manifestations in patients with brucellosis diagnosed in the north of Iran. Diagnosis of active brucellosis was based on the serological tests along with compatible clinical findings. Musculoskeletal involvement of brucellosis was confirmed by clinical and radiographic examinations; 51 (32 males, 19 females) patients with mean (SD) age of 35 (19) years old were studied. Rheumatological manifestations were observed in 94% of patients. The most frequent skeletal findings in order of frequency were peripheral arthritis, sacroiliitis; and spondylitis which occurred in 37; 31 and 8% of patients, respectively. Back pain, arthralgia, myalgia, and enthesopathy were also reported in 49, 34, 11.7% of patients, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, rheumatologic manifestations are common in brucellosis; therefore, in the endemic areas, brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with any type of rheumatologic manifestations.