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Objective: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the serum hepcidin level and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: This study was conducted on 80 patients with RA (36 cases with anemia of chronic disease [ACD] and 44 patients without ACD). Disease activity was measured by the 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). According to the DAS28-ESR score, 52 and 28 cases were categorized as inactive to moderately active RA (DAS28-ESR=5.1) and highly active RA (DAS28-ESR>5.1), respectively. In addition, the serum hepcidin level was evaluated in all patients to determine its correlation with the DAS28-ESR score. Results: There was no significant difference between the RA with ACD and RA without ACD groups in terms of the median (interquartile range) hepcidin level (1207 [985.2] vs. 923.8 [677.3] ng/mL; P=0.57). Likewise, no significant difference was observed between the active RA and inactive to moderately active RA groups in this regard (1131.8 [991.3] vs. 1090.9 [631.4] ng/mL; P=0.53). Conclusion: Hepcidin has no association with disease activity in RA. Therefore, it is not necessary to measure hepcidin to determine the RA activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune arthritis. The impact of chronic inflammation on atherosclerosis and insulin resistance has been observed in several autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, metabolic syndrome (MetS); a cluster of traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis and diabetes seems to be prevalent in RA patients. It is reasonable to think that protective factors against inflammation can protect patients against atherosclerosis and diabetes, too. Vitamin D (Vit D), a novel immunomodulator, is recently considered to play a protective role against cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, and obesity. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the impact of serum Vit D on MetS and body mass index (BMI). One hundred twenty RA patients were enrolled. MetS was assessed according to Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. All patients with known confounders influencing Vit D serum levels were excluded. Serum value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. A logistic regression analysis stated that prednisolone dosage [ p = 0.028, β = 0.177, odds ratio (OR) = 1.194, confidence interval (CI, 1.09-1.32)], age [ p = 0.002, β = 0.146, OR = 1.57, CI (1.05-1.27)] and Vit D serum levels [ p = 0.049, β = −3.766, OR = 0.023, CI (0.001-0.978)] are all significant predictors of MetS occurrence in RA patients. It was shown that 25(OH)D is a protective factor against MetS. It was also shown that there is a negative correlation between BMI and 25(OH)D serum levels ( P = 0.037, r = −0.266). In summary, this study suggested that 25(OH)D plays a protective role against MetS in RA patients. However, this cross-sectional study did not permit a power calculation on the causal relationship between Vit D and metabolic syndrome. On the other hand, Vit D has a negative correlation with BMI in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent researches suggest that imbalance in apoptotic process may lead to susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-18, has important role in autoimmune process in lupus. There are cumulative data on the pro-apoptotic role of IL-18, in the Fas-mediated apoptosis. Soluble Fas (Apo/1-CD95) is a marker of apoptosis that appears to increase in serum of SLE patients. Previous studies demonstrated increasing serum concentrations of soluble Fas (sFas) and IL-18 in SLE. To assess the correlation between serum concentrations of sFas and IL-18 in SLE patients, 114 SLE patients were selected randomly at the different stages of disease activity according to SLEDAI2K. IL-18 and sFas serum concentrations were compared in patients and fifty randomly selected healthy volunteers. The correlations of IL-18 and sFas serum concentrations with SLEDAI2K and with each other were evaluated in patients. There were a significant difference between serum concentrations of sFas and IL-18 in the case and control groups ( P = 0.001). There was a significant correlation between serum concentrations of sFAS and IL-18 in SLE patients ( P < 0.0001, r = 0.411). The elevations of IL-18 and sFas(Apo/1-CD95) serum concentrations in SLE patients are significantly correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soluble Fas (sFas) is a marker of apoptosis that appears to increase in the serum of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and may have a correlation with disease activity. The exact role of sFas in apoptosis is not clear. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between serum levels of soluble Fas (Apo/1-CD95) and the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients and Methods: Our study was performed on 114 systemic lupus erythematosus patients who were compared with 50 randomly selected sex, age and race-matched healthy controls. Disease activity was defined according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K). All physical exams and laboratory parameters were collected to determine the SLEDAI. sFas levels were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. Results: There was a significant difference between serum levels of sFas in the case and control groups (P=0.001). A significant correlation coefficient existed between the sFas and SLEDAI2K variables (P=0.001, r=0.494). Significant statistical difference was found between serum levels of sFas in the active and inactive phases of disease according to SLEDAI= 9 or≥10, (P=0.002). The sFas levels were 270 - 300 pg/mL for SLEDAI≤9 and 355-502 pg/mL for SLEDAI≥10, with a confidence interval of 95%. Conclusion: This study shows a significant elevation of sFas levels in the sera of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with active disease; therefore it can be used as an appropriate marker for evaluation of disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soluble FAS (sFAS) is an apoptosis "programmed cell death" marker and results from shedding of FAS molecules during activation of FAS mediated apoptosis. There are several important reasons that Apoptosis is deregulated in active systemic lupus erythematosus and FAS is over expressed by T-cells; although the role of its soluble form (sFas) is unclear. We have investigated the correlation between serum levels of sFAS and active organ damages in lupus patients. Methods: Our study was performed on 114 systemic lupus erythematosus patients, compared with 50 randomly selected sex-, age- and race-matched healthy controls. The patients were randomly selected in different phases of disease activity. All the physical examinations and laboratory parameters were collected for determination of the SLEDAI index. sFAS, AntidsDNA, C3, and C4 levels were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. Findings: There was a significant difference between serum levels of sFAS in the case and control groups (P = 0.001). We found a significant correlation coefficient between the sFAS and SLEDAI2K variables (P = 0.001, r= 0.494). It was a significant statistical difference between serum levels of sFAS in patients with rising in amount of proteinuria more than 0.5 g/l in 24h urine sample collection and without it (P = 0.04), and central nervous system (CNS) damage versus normal CNS patients (P = 0.006). It was not difference between sFAS and cardiac damage (P = 0.05) but it was near significant difference. Conclusion: We found a correlation between sFAS serum levels and central nervous system involvement and rising in amounts of proteinuria in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]