title: Capillaroscopic findings and vascular biomarkers in systemic sclerosis: Association of low CD40L levels with late scleroderma pattern.
abstract: To determine the relationship between vascular biomarkers reflecting the vascular injury and neoangiogenesis with capillaroscopic changes in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  
  Nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) was performed qualitatively (early, active and late scleroderma patterns) in 72 SSc patients (66 female) fulfilling ACR/EULAR (2013) criteria. Serum samples of patients were collected and analysed by flow cytometer with multiplex kits of sCD40L, tPA, MCP-1, sE-selectin, IL-8, IL-6, VEGF, sP-selectin, TGF-β1 and VCAM at the same time with NVC.
  
  
  
  Compared to healthy subjects; tPA (p=0.02), MCP-1 (p=0.001), sE-selectin (p=0.008) and TGF-β1 (p=0.001) levels were significantly higher, however sP-selectin (p=0.011) and IL-8 (p=0.001) levels were lower in SSc patients. SSc patients were defined according to NVC patterns as 'early' (n=10), 'active' (n=37) and 'late' (n=25). According to NVC patterns of SSc patients, only sCD40L levels were significantly lower in the 'late' group (p=0.039). The other markers were similar among NVC groups.
  
  
  
  NVC is a useful method for investigating the vascular pathogenesis and severity of SSc. Although the levels were similar to healthy controls in patients with early/active NVC patterns, there were lower sCD40L serum levels in patients with late NVC pattern. CD40L may have a role in the early/active phase of vascular involvement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: yasemin_sahinkaya@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yalçınkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Research (DETAE), Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: suzancinar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adın-Çınar
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: bahartimesen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Artim-Esen
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: sevilkamali@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamalı
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ozlempehlivan79@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Pehlivan
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: mlocal@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Öcal
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Research (DETAE), Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: gdeniz@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Günnür
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: drinanc@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inanç
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D023201:CD40 Ligand
keywords: Capillaroscopy; Systemic sclerosis; sCD40L