ABSTRACT
Objective:
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is one of the spondyloarthropathies associated with psoriasis. Recent data suggest an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with PsA, similar to that observed in psoriasis. Fetuin-A is a novel biomarker related to vascular calcification and atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between fetuin-A concentrations and PsA-related parameters.
Methods:
Ninety-seven non-diabetic PsA patients who fulfilled the CASPAR criteria and 57 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Disease activity was assessed by using CPDAI, BASDAI, DAS28-CRP and PASI. Serum lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and fetuin-A were studied.
Results:
There were 97 PsA patients [48 (min-max: 25-65) years, 32M/65F] and 57 healthy subjects [43 (min-max: 31-57) years, 24M/33F]. Disease duration of the PsA patients was 4 (min-max: 0-43) years. Distributions of age, sex, and body mass index were similar between the groups. Fetuin-A concentrations were significantly lower in the patients than in controls (p<0.001). When the PsA group was divided into peripheral (n=14), axial (n=52) and both peripheral and axial subgroups (n=31), fetuin A remained significantly lower in the each group compared to controls (p<0.001). There were negative correlations between fetuin-A concentrations and CPDAI, PASI, hs-CRP and ESR (r=-0.26, r=-0.25, r=-0.3, and r=-0.26, respectively; p<0.05).
Conclusion: Fetuin-A was lower in the PsA group than in healthy controls, regardless of disease subgroups. The negative relationship of this marker with acute phase reactants and disease activity indices suggests that reduced fetuin-A levels are associated with disease-related factors.