Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01889 (ankylosing spondylitis)
 5,717 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Specific antagonists of tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) have rapidly gain popularity for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The dose of etanercept has not been determined in Asia, especially in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the maintaining effect of low-dose (25 mg/week) etanercept in Korean patients with AS and after discontinuation, the duration to be aggravated. Patients who had active AS [Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) > or =4] were treated with 50 mg of etanercept per week for 3 months. After that, for 6 months, the patients were treated with 25 mg of etanercept per week. We evaluated the serum erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and BASDAI every 1 month for 3 months and every 2-3 months during the remaining 6 months. After all schedules of treatment were finished, we reevaluated ESR, CRP, and BASDAI every 4 months until recurrence. Twenty-seven AS patients received etanercept. Twenty-three patients completed treatment for 3 months with a dose of 50 mg/week. Among them, 18 completed for 6 months with a dose of 25 mg/week and discontinued. Mean age was 30.0 +/- 5.4 years and mean disease duration was 7.5 +/- 6.5 years. These 18 patients were evaluated for BASDAI, ESR, and CRP every 4 weeks. After discontinuation, mean duration to recur was 9.2 +/- 6.1 weeks. Twenty-five milligrams of etanercept per week is effective enough to maintain remission in AS. After discontinuation, this effect was maintained by using a dose of 50 mg of etanercept per week.
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PMID:Etanercept 25 mg/week is effective enough to maintain remission for ankylosing spondylitis among Korean patients. 1787 73

Adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin are involved in the regulation of inflammation. Ghrelin, a gastric peptide playing a role in the appetite regulation, possesses anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the circulating levels of adipokines (leptin as potential proinflammatory and adiponectin as anti-inflammatory marker) and ghrelin and the fat mass in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Serum leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin were evaluated in 53 AS patients with active disease (mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index >40) and 35 controls. Fat and lean masses were determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Fat and lean masses did not differ between patients and controls. Ankylosing spondylitis patients had lower leptin levels compared with controls, even after adjustment for fat mass (AS vs controls: leptin, 7.6 +/- 1.3 ng/mL vs 10.3 +/- 1.5 ng/mL; leptin [in nanograms per milliliter]/fat mass [in kilograms], 0.28 +/- 0.04 vs 0.44 +/- 0.04; P = .006 and P = .0003, respectively). Serum adiponectin did not differ between patients and controls, whereas circulating ghrelin was higher in AS patients (1354.6 +/- 70.5 pg/mL vs 1008.0 +/- 82.5 pg/mL; P = .001). However, all these results were significant only for male patients. No correlation was found between leptin and adiponectin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, tumor necrosis factor alpha, or Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index. Ankylosing spondylitis patients had no changes in fat mass. Leptin production was reduced in contrast with normal levels of adiponectin. These adipokine results, together with high serum ghrelin levels, may influence the inflammatory response in AS.
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PMID:Adipose tissue, serum adipokines, and ghrelin in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. 1788 49

We evaluated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with longstanding disease and investigated whether there is any relationship between MRI findings and validated methods of disease assessment. A total of 34 AS patients with disease duration greater than 10 years were included in this observational cross-sectional study (26 men, 8 women). The main outcome measures were Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global assessment (BASG), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), MRI of the thoracic and lumbar spine (AS spi MRI A) and measurement of serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma viscosity (PV) and immunoglobulin A (Ig A). The median scores for the acute lesions based on AS spi MRI A scoring system was 2.5 (0-4.12). The respective mean ESR and CRP were 36 (SD, 24.00) mm/h and 14.19 (SD, 24.00) mg/l with the median PV of 1.8 (1.75-1.87). The median BASG, BASFI and BASDAI were 4.55 (2.37-5.55), 4.40(2.31-5.47) and 4.32 (3.07-6.48), respectively. No significant correlations were found between the acute MRI scores and each of the clinical instruments and laboratory markers of inflammation. In this study, majority of AS patients with longstanding disease had very low AS spi MRI A scores or no evidence of spinal inflammatory lesions. Our study would suggest that MRI should be used along with other measures of disease activity in the assessment of symptomatic AS patients with longstanding disease.
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PMID:Disease activity in longstanding ankylosing spondylitis: a correlation of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings. 1791 78

The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), disease activity index (BASDAI), and Global assessment (BASG) are the most commonly used instruments to assess patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate these instruments into the Arabic language. Seventy-three AS patients were included in this study. One question in the BASFI questionnaire was changed to suit the Arabic culture. Also, the VAS in the questionnaires was transformed to numerical rating scales from 0 to 10. After modification, translation, and retranslation of the questionnaires, it was administered and tested for internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine and sacroiliac joints was carried out for 69 patients; scores for disease activity and chronicity were also assessed. The adapted and translated questionnaires demonstrated acceptable comprehensibility scores with a mean of 9.3. Intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability and internal consistency was 0.973 for BASG, whereas standardized alpha ranged between 0.807 and 0.976. The modified item 9 in the BASFI demonstrated a good correlate to the principal component (0.883). When validated, all three questionnaires showed a significant correlation with enthesitis, BAS-radiology index, MRI imaging scores for activity and chronicity, C-reactive protein (CRP), and morning stiffness duration. The Arabic version of the BASFI, BASDAI, and BASG, showed adequate reliability and validity in patients with AS. The measurement properties were comparable to versions in other languages indicating that the questionnaires can be used for evaluation of AS Arabic-speaking patients.
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PMID:Defining disease status in ankylosing spondylitis: validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Arabic Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global score (BASG). 1818 Sep 79

The objective of this study was to explore the significance of platelet activation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Thirty-five AS patients and 15 normal controls were selected from November 2005 to October 2006. The number of CD62P- and CD63-positive cells were detected by flow cytometry. At the same time, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet count (PLT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined in both groups. The percentage of CD62P-positive cell in AS patients (13.60 +/- 7.64%) was significantly higher than that in control group (2.78 +/- 1.04%; P < 0.01). The percentage of CD63-positive cell in AS patients (6.92 +/- 4.16%) was significantly higher than that in control group (4.13 +/- 1.85%; P < 0.05). The levels of CRP (20.18 +/- 23.17 mg/l), PLT (259.54 +/- 102.59 x 10(9)/l) and ESR (36.86 +/- 31.23 mm/h) in AS patients were higher than those in normal controls, respectively (3.21 +/- 2.18 mg/l, P < 0.01; 197.00 +/- 55.70 x 10(9)/l, P < 0.01; 12.25 +/- 5.05 mm/h, P < 0.05). Platelet activation may be a sign of AS exacerbation.
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PMID:The significance of platelet activation in ankylosing spondylitis. 1824 78

It has recently been reported that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) plays various roles in such autoimmune diseases as diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, it has still remained unclear whether there is a close relationship between TRAIL and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this study, we investigated the association between the expression of TRAIL and AS. The specific messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of TRAIL in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), serum sTRAIL, and TNF-alpha concentrations from 60 AS patients, 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and 30 healthy controls were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that the expression levels of TRAIL mRNA, and serum sTRAIL were significantly elevated in AS patients, compared with RA patients and healthy controls, and there was a close association between TRAIL mRNA and sTRAIL levels. However, there was no significant difference between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27-positive and -negative AS patients. In HLA-B27-positive patients, TRAIL mRNA and sTRAIL closely correlated with serum TNF-alpha and C-reactive protein (CRP), but did not correlate in HLA-B27-negative patients. In conclusion, upregulated expression of TRAIL might be somewhat specific for evaluation of AS.
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PMID:Preliminary clinical measurement of the expression of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. 1834 11

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are chronic, progressive, systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases that lead to serious disability. The objective of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients with RA and AS who were treated in tertiary hospitals in Turkey and to analyze their current medical management. A total of 562 RA and 216 AS patients were evaluated. The mean age of RA patients was 52.1 +/- 12.6 years. The female to male ratio was 3.7:1. Of the RA patients, 72.2% had positive rheumatoid factor (RF), 62.9% had high C-reactive protein, and 75.2% had radiological erosion. The ratio of patients with Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28 >3.2 was 73.9% and of those with Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) > or =1.5 was 20.9%. There was a statistically significant increase in RF positivity and HAQ scores in the group with higher DAS 28 score. Frequency of extraarticular manifestations was 22.4%. The ratio of the patients receiving disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) was 93.1%, and 6.9% of the patients were using anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents. In AS, the mean age of the patients was 38.1 +/- 10.6, and the female to male ratio was 1:2.5. The time elapsed between the first symptom and diagnosis was 4.3 years. The ratio of peripheral joint involvement was 29.4%. Major histocompatibility complex, class I, B 27 was investigated in 31.1% of patients and the rate of positivity was 91%. In 52.4% of the patients, Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was > or =4. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Bath AS Functional Index, and peripheral involvement were significantly higher in the group with BASDAI > or =4. Frequency of extraarticular involvement was 21.2% in AS patients. In the treatment schedule, 77.5% of AS patients were receiving sulphasalazine, 15% methotrexate, and 9.9% anti-TNF agents. Despite widespread use of DMARD, we observed high disease activity in more than half of the RA and AS patients. These results may be due to relatively insufficient usage of anti-TNF agents in our patients and therefore these results mostly reflect the traditional treatments. In conclusion, analysis of disease characteristics will inform us about the disease severity and activity in RA and AS patients and could help in selecting candidate patients for biological treatments.
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PMID:Characteristics and medical management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. 1835 99

The aim of this study was to determine autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions by using clinical and electrophysiological tests in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Twenty AS and 20 healthy control subjects were recruited. Demographic data, symptoms related with ANS, and neurological findings were recorded. Clinical measurements including the heart rate variation with deep breathing (HRV), heart rate response to standing (HRS), systolic blood pressure response to standing, and diastolic blood pressure response to isometric exercise were obtained to assess parasympathetic and sympathetic functions of the subjects. The electrophysiological assessments of ANS were performed by sympathetic skin response (SSR) and R-R interval variation (RRIV) measurements for the sympathetic and parasympathetic functions, respectively. Patients with AS were subdivided into two groups depending on the activity of disease. The difference between the groups and relationship between ANS variables and clinical entities were determined. Fifteen male and five female AS patients with a mean age of 38+/-8.05 years and 14 male and six female healthy control subjects with a mean age of 40+/-9.8 years were included in the study. All the subjects were totally symptom free for ANS involvement and had normal neurological examination findings. The levels of HRV, HRS, and the mean RRIV values were significantly lower in AS patients than in control subjects. The clinical ANS parameters of the patients having more active disease were lower than in subjects with mild disease in regard to HRV values and SSR amplitudes and higher in regard to SSR latencies. The HRV values were found to be correlated with the mean scores of Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and the mean latencies of SSR were correlated with BASDAI scores and CRP levels. In conclusion, our study indicates a subclinical mainly parasympathetic dysfunction of ANS in patients with AS which can be related with disease activity.
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PMID:The autonomic dysfunction in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a clinical and electrophysiological study. 1846 35

Although most ankylosing spondylitis patients show an apparent clinical response to infliximab therapy, there is considerable individual variation. Because current clinical assessment relies heavily on subjective patient self-evaluation, biomarkers of high sensitivity and specificity are much needed. Here, we assessed potential biomarkers in 47 ankylosing spondylitis patients who received three standard pulses of infliximab. Before each infusion and at week 10, the following were measured: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count, serum levels of metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and 22 different cytokines. We discovered that, 2 weeks after the first infusion, the combination of ESR, CRP, and platelet count distinguished responders from non-responders with 81.3% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. The distinguishing power was much less when each acute phase reactant was used alone. Among the 22 cytokines, serum IL-1alpha was able to distinguish responders from non-responders at week 6, with sensitivity of 84.9% and specificity of 53.8%. Serum IL-1alpha was probably generated from the joint compartments, as synovial fluid levels were much higher than corresponding serum levels. Although infliximab infusions led to rapid and significant suppression of serum MMP-3 levels, serum MMP-3 levels did not distinguish responders from non-responders. Besides identifying potential biomarkers, our results also demonstrate the usefulness of using sensitivity and specificity to assess usefulness of potential biomarkers.
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PMID:Identification of acute phase reactants and cytokines useful for monitoring infliximab therapy in ankylosing spondylitis. 1856 49

In this study, patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were assessed both by patient and physician using two enthesitis indices and the relationship between these indices and disease activity parameters was investigated. The study involved 100 AS patients. The patients were evaluated with 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) for spinal pain (VAS-S), peripheral joint pain (VAS-P), global assessment of patient, and global assessment of doctor. In the laboratory evaluations, the erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) and serum C-reactive protein levels of the patients were determined. Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS metrology index, and Bath AS radiology index were calculated. The severity of enthesitis was evaluated according to Mander enthesitis index (MEI) and Maastricht ankylosing spondylitis enthesitis score applied by both the patient (MASES-P) him/herself and the physician (MASES-D). There was a correlation between BASDAI and BASFI as well as MEI, MASES-D, and MASES-P indices (r = 0.447, r = 0.342, r = 0.663, r = 0.530, r = 0.464, and r = 0.435, respectively). No correlation between the laboratory parameters and enthesitis indices were detected. In multiple linear regression analysis, BASFI, VAS-S, and female gender (41.3%) were the best predictors of MEI-D, whereas BASFI, VAS-S, female gender, and ESR (32.5%) were the best predictors for MASES-D and BASFI (18.9%) was the best predictor of MASES-P. The assessment of simple and easily applicable MASES score by a patient may be expected to help the physician in clinical practice. When the disease activity of the patients with AS are evaluated, both BASDAI, the clinical importance of which has been confirmed in numerous studies and which is recommended by ASAS, and BASFI, which is valued by patients, should be considered.
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PMID:The relationship between enthesitis indices and disease activity parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. 1895 22


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