Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Incidence and Correlation with Demographic and Clinical Variables

Objective: To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and determine its correlation with the demographic and clinical characteristics of AS. Patients and Methods: Demographic, clinical and osteodensitometric data were evaluated in a cross-sectional study that included 136 patients with AS. Spine and hip BMD were measured by means of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Using the modified Schober’s test we assessed spine mobility. We examined the sacroiliac, anteroposterior and lateral dorso-lumbar spine radiographs in order to grade sacroiliitis and assess syndesmophytes. Disease activity was evaluated using C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Demographic data and BMD measurements were compared with those of 167 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results: Patients with AS had a significantly lower BMD at the spine, femoral neck, trochanter and total hip as compared to age-matched controls (all p<0.01). According to the WHO classification, osteoporosis was present in 20.6% of the AS patients at the lumbar spine and in 14.6% at the femoral neck. There were no significant differences in BMD when comparing men and women with AS, except for trochanter BMD that was lower in female patients. No correlations were found between disease activity markers (ESR, CRP) and BMD. Femoral neck BMD was correlated with disease duration, Schober’s test and sacroiliitis grade. Conclusion: Patients with AS have a lower spine and hip BMD as compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Bone loss at the femoral neck is associated with disease duration and more severe AS

Bone mineral density, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and Klotho gene polymorphism in postmenopausal women

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Frail Silk: Is the Hughes-Stovin Syndrome a Behçet Syndrome Subtype with Aneurysm-Involved Gene Variants?

Hughes-Stovin syndrome is a rare disease characterized by thrombophlebitis and multiple pulmonary and/or bronchial aneurysms. The etiology and pathogenesis of HSS are incompletely known. The current consensus is that vasculitis underlies the pathogenic process, and pulmonary thrombosis follows arterial wall inflammation. As such, Hughes-Stovin syndrome may belong to the vascular cluster with lung involvement of Behçet syndrome, although oral aphtae, arthritis, and uveitis are rarely found. Behçet syndrome is a multifactorial polygenic disease with genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and mostly immunological contributors. The different Behçet syndrome phenotypes are presumably based upon different genetic determinants involving more than one pathogenic pathway. Hughes-Stovin syndrome may have common pathways with fibromuscular dysplasias and other diseases evolving with vascular aneurysms. We describe a Hughes-Stovin syndrome case fulfilling the Behçet syndrome criteria. A MYLK variant of unknown significance was detected, along with other heterozygous mutations in genes that may impact angiogenesis pathways. We discuss the possible involvement of these genetic findings, as well as other potential common determinants of Behçet/Hughes-Stovin syndrome and aneurysms in vascular Behçet syndrome. Recent advances in diagnostic techniques, including genetic testing, could help diagnose a specific Behçet syndrome subtype and other associated conditions to personalize the disease management.</jats:p

Bone status and aortic calcifications in chondrocalcinosis patients

Aim: We aimed to examine the association between several circulating bone turnover markers [ osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG), beta-CrossLaps (β-CTx)], hip and spine bone mineral density (BMD) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in patients with chondrocalcinosis (CC)