Endothelin-1 serum levels in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum Endothelin-1(ET-1) levels in female Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients compared with healthy controls, examine possible associations between ET-1 with different characteristic of the disease and investigate possible associations between ET-1 with surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Vega-Baja Hospital, Orihuela (Spain) from November 2016 to May 2018. Sixty-three women with RA and sixty-five age and sex healthy controls were included in this study. Serum ET-1 was analyzed using ELISA. Results: Serum levels of ET-1 in RA female patients were higher than those in healthy controls (p ??0.001). Serum le vels of ET-1 were positively associated with Nterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r = 0.27, p < 0.05) and with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). ET-1 levels in women with RA were higher in smokers. Pre dnisone use was associated with lower ET-1 levels. No association with carotid intima media thickness was found. Conclusions: we observed the presence of higher le - vels of serum ET-1 in RA women patients compared with healthy controls. These increased levels of ET-1 are associated with inflammation and smoking and reduced by prednisone intake

Estudio de la molécula FGF-23 y su correceptor Klotho en esclerosis sistémica

Esta demostrado que las pacientes con ES, tienen más riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular, incluso en ausencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular clásicos. El FGF-23 y su correceptor Klotho son nuevas moléculas que juegan un papel clave en las alteraciones del metabolismo mineral óseo, y se ha propuesto que pueden estar implicadas en el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Nuestro objetivo es comparar los niveles de Klotho y FGF-23 entre pacientes con ES y un grupo de control de sujetos sanos. Valorar la posible relación entre FGF-23 y su correceptor Klotho con diferentes características de la enfermedad y su papel potencial como marcador subrogado de enfermedad cardiovascular. Estudiamos también los niveles de endoltelina-1 y homocisteína, así como su relación con FRCV y osteoporosis. Métodos: Sesenta y dos pacientes con ES fueron reclutados en el área sanitaria de la provincia de Granada, y sesenta y dos controles sanos de la misma edad y sexo fueron incluidos en el estudio. Los niveles de Klotho y FGF-23 fueron analizados mediante ELISA. Resultados: No encontramos diferencias entre los niveles de FGF-23 y Klotho entre pacientes y controles. Encontramos niveles más elevados de FGF-23 en las pacientes que presentaban calcinosis (p<0,05). Encontramos además asociación de FGF-23 con el riesgo de fractura determinado por FRAX y una correlación negativa con los niveles de HDL (p<0,05). Hemos observación una correlación negativa de Klotho tanto con la VOP como en la DMO lumbar de las pacientes. En cuanto al estudio de la homocisteína encontramos una correlación positiva entre los niveles de homocisteína y la VOP, por lo que podría estar implicada en la rigidez arterial y obtuvimos datos similares con la ET-1. Conclusiones: Aunque no encontramos diferencias en los niveles de FGF-23 y Klotho en las pacientes con ES respecto a los controles, si que encontramos ciertas correlaciones que podría explicar de que forma participan ambas moléculas en la enfermedad. El interés fundamental que se deriva de los hallazgos descritos es la posibilidad que existe de controlar muchos de los factores implicados en la patogenia de la aterosclerosis y la osteoporosis en pacientes con ES consiguiendo, con ello, prevenirlas. De este modo resulta fundamental en los pacientes con ES el control estrecho de FRCV reversibles y la valoración de osteoporosis.Tesis Univ. Granada

FGF23-Klotho axis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare serum Klotho and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) levels between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls. Possible association between FGF-23 and soluble Klotho with different characteristic of the disease as well as their potential role as surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were studied. METHODS: Sixty-three patients with RA recruited at Vega-Baja Hospital, Orihuela (Spain) from November 2016 to May 2018 and sixty-five age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Serum Klotho and FGF-23 were analysed using ELISA. RESULTS: Patients had higher serum levels of Klotho than healthy controls (p˂0.0001). They were positively associated with the presence of anticitrullinated peptide antibody and rheumatic factor (p<0.05). Klotho serum levels were higher in RA patients treated with biologic agents than in those undergoing conventional therapy (p=0.008). However, no association with carotid intima media thickness was found. Although no significant differences in serum FGF-23 levels between patients and controls were found (p=0.43), FGF-23 levels were positively associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) level (p<0.05) and smoking (p=0.008) in patients with RA. CONCLUSIONS: The increased serum Klotho levels in RA patients, especially in those undergoing biologic therapy, may indicate a potential implication in the pathogenesis of the disease. Although levels of FGF-23 were related to LDL-c levels, the FGF-23-Klotho axis does not seem to be related to subclinical arteriosclerosis in RA