Serum Fetuin-A Level in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis and its Relationship With Clinical Parameters

Ferhat GÖKMEN1, Ayla AKBAL1, Fahri GÜNEŞ2, Hakan TÜRKÖN3, Ahmet VURAL4, Emine BİNNETOĞLU2, Erkam KÖMÜRCÜ5, Hacer ŞEN2 Mehmet AŞIK2, Erdem AKBAL2

1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
2Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
3Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
4Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
5Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey

Keywords: Acute phase reactants, ankylosing spondylitis, fetuin-A

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association of serum fetuin-A levels with disease activation and clinical parameters in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.
Patients and methods: Forty-seven AS patients (30 males, 17 females; mean age 39.7±11.1 years; range 20 to 69 years) and 30 healthy controls (14 males, 16 females; mean age 42.0±11.5 years; range 19 to 63 years) were included in the study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index were used in the assessment of AS. Serum fetuin-A levels were measured using ELISA.
Results: Mean serum fetuin-A values in AS patients (984±203 ng/mL) were significantly lower compared to controls (1156±218 ng/mL) (p=0.001). While a statistically significant negative correlation was detected in AS patients between fetuin-A values and C-reactive protein (p=0.009, r=-0.377), no significant correlation was detected between erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index or Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index parameters and fetuin-A.
Conclusion: Serum fetuin-A levels in AS patients were lower than the control group. However, further research is required to establish the role of serum fetuin-A levels as a surrogate marker of disease activity.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.