title: Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels Lack Predictive Value in Patients with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with Golimumab.
abstract: To assess vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlations with new bone formation and bone marrow edema in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with golimumab (GOL).
  
  
  
  Following placebo control (through weeks 16 and 24), GO-RAISE (A Multicenter Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Golimumab, a Fully Human Anti-TNF-α Monoclonal Antibody, Administered Subcutaneously, in Subjects with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00265083) all patients received GOL; sera/images were available at weeks 0, 104, and 208. Lateral spinal radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were scored using the modified Stokes Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal MRI activity score, respectively.
  
  
  
  VEGF levels and the mSASSS did not significantly correlate. Logistic regression analyses showed no association between VEGF levels and an increased risk of syndesmophyte formation at weeks 104 and 208. Pretreatment/Week 14 VEGF did not predict MRI scores/changes at Week 104.
  
  
  
  Serum VEGF did not predict radiographic progression/spinal inflammation in patients receiving antitumor necrosis factor.
authors.affiliation: From Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne; Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum; Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Biostatistics, and Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA.J. Braun, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; X. Baraliakos, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; K.G. Hermann, MD, PhD, Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin; S. Xu, MS, Biostatistics, Janssen Research & Development LLC; B. Hsu, MD, PhD, Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC. j.braun@rheumazentrum-ruhrgebiet.de.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: From Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne; Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum; Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Biostatistics, and Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA.J. Braun, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; X. Baraliakos, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; K.G. Hermann, MD, PhD, Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin; S. Xu, MS, Biostatistics, Janssen Research & Development LLC; B. Hsu, MD, PhD, Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC.
authors.forename: Xenofon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Baraliakos
authors.affiliation: From Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne; Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum; Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Biostatistics, and Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA.J. Braun, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; X. Baraliakos, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; K.G. Hermann, MD, PhD, Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin; S. Xu, MS, Biostatistics, Janssen Research & Development LLC; B. Hsu, MD, PhD, Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC.
authors.forename: Kay-Geert A
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.affiliation: From Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne; Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum; Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Biostatistics, and Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA.J. Braun, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; X. Baraliakos, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; K.G. Hermann, MD, PhD, Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin; S. Xu, MS, Biostatistics, Janssen Research & Development LLC; B. Hsu, MD, PhD, Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: From Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne; Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum; Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Biostatistics, and Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA.J. Braun, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; X. Baraliakos, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, and Ruhr-University Bochum; K.G. Hermann, MD, PhD, Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin; S. Xu, MS, Biostatistics, Janssen Research & Development LLC; B. Hsu, MD, PhD, Immunology, Janssen Research & Development LLC.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C529000:golimumab
keywords: ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; BIOLOGIC; BIOMARKERS; RADIOGRAPH; TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR