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Objectives: To assess gender related differences in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: Consecutively recruited patients were included and underwent clinical, radiological and laboratory evaluation by using standardized protocol and case report forms. Results: Women (n = 115) with PsA had higher symptom duration and body mass index (BMI), tender and swollen joint counts, disease activity score-28 joints (DAS28), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and poorer physical activity and fatigue than men (n = 72) with PsA. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) were higher in male patients. However quality of life (SF36 physical and mental component scores), articular pattern, extra-articular features (including uveitis, iritis) and family history for psoriasis, spondyloarthritis (SpA) (PsA and ankylosing spondylitis [AS]) were quite similar between men and women. Conclusions: Some of the clinical and laboratory variables tend to be different between men and women with PsA. The extent of quality of life and articular pattern seem to be similar in both genders. Men with PsA are more likely to have higher PASI scores and longer duration to develop arthritis after the onset of psoriasis, while women are more likely to have higher disease activity and report more fatigue and physical activity limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Osteoporosis / Turk Osteoporoz Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Aim: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that is associated with increased cardiovascular burden. The aim of this study was to investigate vascular structural and functional changes in patients with AS, with special emphasis on the effects of different treatment modalities, through evaluation of level of vascular stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PVW]) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT-C). Methods: A total of 67 AS patients, and age, sex, body mass index (BMI) smoking status, lipid profiles and blood pressure-matched healthy control subjects (n =34) were studied. Of these, 34 patients were on anti-TNF alpha and 33 on non steroid anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The IMT-C and PWV values of the right common carotid artery were measured by high-resolution ultrasound. Results: The AS patients (n =67) had significantly higher PWV values than the controls [9.0±1.49m/sec vs. 8.27±0.90m/sec, P =0.004; 95% confidence interval (CI), −1.22 to −0.24]. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that PWV could only be explained by systolic blood pressure (P <0.05) and IMT (P <0.05) in AS. Even though IMT-C in anti-TNF alpha treated group was higher compared to the NSAID treated group, it was not statistically significant (P =0.5). Conclusion: PWV was found to be higher in AS patients than in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the average PWV values of AS patients treated with anti -TNF alpha or NSAIDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Résumé: Objectif: La spondylarthrite ankylosante (SA) est une maladie de système chronique inflammatoire associée à des risques cardiovasculaires en cours d’évaluation. Le but de cette étude était d’étudier les modifications vasculaires structurelles et fonctionnelles chez les patients atteints de SA, en insistant particulièrement sur les effets de différentes modalités de traitement, au moyen de l’évaluation de la rigidité vasculaire (vitesse de l’onde de pouls [VOP]) et de l’épaisseur intima-média carotidienne (EIM-C). Méthodes: Soixante-sept patients atteints de SA, ont été étudiés : âge, sexe, indice de masse corporelle (IMC), statut tabagique, profil lipidique et pression artérielle et appariés avec des patients témoins (n =34). Parmi eux, 34 patients étaient sous anti-TNF-alpha et 33 sous anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens (AINS). Les valeurs de l’EIM-C et de la VOP de l’artère carotide commune droite furent mesurées par résolution ultra-sons. Résultats: Les patients SA (n =67) présentaient des VOP significativement plus élevées que les témoins (9,0±1,49m/sec vs 8,27±0,90m/sec, p =0,004 ; intervalle de confiance à 95 % [IC], –1,22 à –0,24). De multiples analyses de régression linéaire pas à pas ont révélé que la VOP pouvait être expliquée uniquement par la pression artérielle systolique (p <0,05) et l’EIM (p <0,05) dans la SA. Bien que l’EIM-C dans le groupe traité par anti-TNF-alpha était supérieure à celle du groupe traité par AINS, la différence n’était toutefois pas significative. Conclusion: Une VOP supérieure à été observée chez les patients atteints de SA en comparaison aux patients du groupe témoin. Il n’existait pas de différence significative entre les valeurs moyennes de VOP des patients SA traités par anti-TNF-alpha ou AINS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate the association between radiographic features (osteophytes, disc space narrowing) in patients with lumbar spine degenerative changes and body mass index (BMI), with quantitative methods. Material and Method: One-hundred and three women with lumbar spine degenerative changes who had lower back pain were included in the study Patients were divided into two groups according to their BMI. Pain and functional status of patients were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) and Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ), respectively. The size of osteophytes and disc space narrowing were calculated on lateral roentgenogram of the lumbar vertebrae by using computer based stereological methods. Results: No significant correlation was detected between the BMI and radiological findings. But, there was a positive correlation between the osteophyte surface area and RMQ, and VAS and RMQ (p<0.05). Conclusion: No significant correlation was detected between the BMI and radiographic findings in lumbar spine degenerative changes. To our knowledge, this is the first study quantitatively assessing the association between radiographic findings and BMI in lumbar spine degenerative changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]