title: Serum levels of angiogenic cytokines in psoriatic arthritis and SAPHO syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis is involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of selected angiogenic cytokines and their association with clinical presentation in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and SAPHO syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 98 patients: 80 with PsA and 18 with SAPHO syndrome. The following data were recorded: age, sex, disease duration, joint involvement, type of psoriasis, nail involvement, and treatment. The following indices used to assess the activity of PsA and SAPHO were measured: PASI, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, BASG, and VAS pain. We determined erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‑reactive protein (CRP), and platelet count. The serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGFb and FGFa) were determined using an enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with PsA, VEGF levels were positively correlated with CRP (P = 0.04), BASFI (P = 0.03), and disease duration (P = 0.007). No differences were found between patients with and without nail psoriasis in the VEGF or EGF levels (P = 0.32 and P = 0.85, respectively). There were no differences between patients with the peripheral and axial forms of arthritis in VEGF or EGF levels (P = 0.56 and P = 0.28, respectively). No significant correlations were observed between EGF and FGF levels and clinical presentation in patients with PsA. In patients with SAPHO, no significant correlations were found between angiogenic cytokine levels and clinical presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest a role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of PsA. Further studies are required to better understand the role of angiogenic cytokines in PsA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. hannapb@wp.pl
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Przepiera-Będzak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brzosko
mesh_terms: D020083:Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000097:blood; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein