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Serum B ‐cell activating factor assessment in a population of E gyptian patients with systemic sclerosis
Author(s) -
Abdo Manal S.,
Mohammed Reem Hamdy A.,
Raslan Hala M.,
Gaber Sabah M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12019
Subject(s) - b cell activating factor , medicine , scleroderma (fungus) , gastroenterology , rheumatology , connective tissue disease , population , systemic disease , disease , immunology , autoimmune disease , antibody , b cell , environmental health , inoculation
Background Systemic sclerosis ( SS c) is a rare systemic connective tissue disease characterized by abnormal fibroblast proliferation and micro‐vascular inflammatory changes. Aim To assess serum B ‐cell activating factor ( BAFF ) levels in patients with systemic sclerosis and to correlate this with disease features and disease severity. Methods This is a case‐control study in which patients with the established diagnosis of SS c were recruited. The diagnosis of SS c was established according to the American Rheumatology Association 1980 criteria for the classification of scleroderma. Patients' assessment included evaluation of skin involvement using the Modified Rodnan score and disease severity using the M edsger score. Twenty‐five healthy matching controls were included. The sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique was used for direct assessment of serum BAFF in patients and controls. Results The study included 60 patients (54 female and 6 male), with a mean age of 38.18 ± 12.06 years, with mean disease duration of 7.85 ± 4.075 years. Serum BAFF in patients ranged 98.2–5015 pg/mL with mean BAFF 1100 ± 835.4 pg/mL. In controls serum BAFF levels ranged 188.5–2314 pg/mL with mean BAFF 546.1 ± 471.1 pg/mL, showing a statistically significant elevation of serum BAFF levels in SS c patients ( P = 0.0001) with insignificant correlation to skin disease or total M edsgar Score of the study population ( P > 0.05). Serum BAFF levels showed significant correlation with episodes of pseudo‐obstruction and methotrexate ( MTX ) use in the patients studied ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Serum BAFF levels were significantly elevated in patients with SS c irrespective of disease subtype, disease duration or age of patients. This elevation in serum BAFF significantly related to gastrointestinal track involvement and MTX therapy.