Abstract
Background/aim Human endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) is a marker of vascular endothelial dysfunction that may be used in the evaluation of inflammatory-associated atherosclerotic lesions. Endocan may be a marker for the evaluation of atherosclerosis and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Materials and methodsWe included 39 RA patients assessed according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatology 2010 diagnostic criteria and recruited 30 age- and sex-matching healthy subjects for the control group.ResultsEndocan values were 14.11 ± 3.27 for the RA patients and 12.10 ± 2.92 for the controls. The endocan values of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P = 0.009). In the correlation analysis, endocan showed a significantly positive correlation with disease activity score-28 (r = 0.386, P = 0.029) and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) (r = 0.419, P = 0.008). Linear regression analysis revealed that there was an independent relationship between endocan and cIMT (P = 0.029).Conclusion Endocan can be a marker for early atherosclerosis and disease activity in RA patients.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory, autoimmune disease with a prevalence of 0.5%–1% in the general population
Linear regression analysis revealed that there was an independent relationship between endocan and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) (P = 0.029)
Endocan can be a marker for early atherosclerosis and disease activity in RA patients
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory, autoimmune disease with a prevalence of 0.5%–1% in the general population. Symmetrical joint involvement and erosion and deformities in joints due to synovial inflammation are seen during the clinical course of the disease [1,2]. The pathogenesis of this disease is not clear, it is thought that genetic and environmental factors play a critical role. It is more commonly seen in females than in males [3]. In RA patients atherosclerosis (ATHS) and ATHS-associated cardiovascular diseases are among the principal causes of mortality and morbidity [4]
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