title: Serum B-cell activating factor assessment in a population  of Egyptian patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare systemic connective tissue disease characterized by abnormal fibroblast proliferation and micro-vascular inflammatory changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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 SSc were recruited. The diagnosis of SSc 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 Medsger 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 SSc patients (P = 0.0001) with insignificant correlation to skin disease or total Medsgar 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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum BAFF levels were significantly elevated in patients with SSc irrespective of disease subtype, disease duration or age of patients. This elevation in serum BAFF significantly related to gastrointestinal track involvement and MTX therapy.
authors: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Medicine Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Manal S
authors: MS
authors: Abdo
authors: Reem Hamdy A
authors: RH
authors: Mohammed
authors: Hala M
authors: HM
authors: Raslan
authors: Sabah M
authors: SM
authors: Gaber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D008727:Methotrexate