Serum VEGF, EGF, basic FGF, and acidic FGF levels and their association with disease activity and extra‑articular symptoms in ankylosing spondylitis

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

POLSKIE ARCHIWUM MEDYCYNY WEWNĘTRZNEJ 2016; 126 (4) 290 80 Caucasian patients with AS.The diagnosis of AS was made according to the modified New York criteria.1 The following data were recorded: age, sex, disease duration, presence of peripheral arthritis, HLA-B27 positivity, and extra-articular symptoms including uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and psoriasis.Patients were treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) only or in combination with sulfasalazine (2g/d) or methotrexate (15 mg/wk).The patient's pain due to the disease at the time of examination was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS).We also assessed the following indices: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI).These indices have a possible score of 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating greater disease activity.We regarded patients as active if the BASDAI score was higher than 4. 10,11 Blood samples were collected for the assessment of ESR, CRP (turbimetric nephelometry, rate reaction), and platelet count (PLT).The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was assessed using CRP and ESR parameters.The ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-ESR were calculated using an online calculator available at the website of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society.Serum was stored at -70 o C until analysis.VEGF, EGF, bFGF, aFGF, IL-6, and IL-23 were analysed by means of a sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the Human VEGF Immunoassay Quantikine® ELISA kit, Human EGF Immunoassay Quanti-kine® ELISA kit, Human FGF basic Immunoassay Quantikine® ELISA kit, Human FGF acidic Immunoassay Quantikine® ELISA kit, Human