Ankylosing Spondylitis, Connective Tissue Diseases, Crystal Arthropathies, Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF ), Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis (ReA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA
Conditions
Brief summary
Rheumatic diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions that can lead to long-term tissue damage and increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are harmful molecules that accumulate in the body over time and are known to promote inflammation and oxidative stress. Increased AGE burden has been implicated in several chronic diseases; however, its role in rheumatic diseases has not been fully clarified. This observational, cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the accumulation of AGEs in patients with various rheumatic diseases compared with healthy individuals. AGE levels will be assessed non-invasively using skin autofluorescence measurements. By comparing AGE burden between patients and healthy controls, this study seeks to improve understanding of the potential role of AGEs in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases and to explore their usefulness as a non-invasive biomarker in clinical practice.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Bursa City Hospital
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 18 and 75 years * Diagnosis of an inflammatory rheumatic disease (including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, connective tissue diseases, Behçet disease, familial Mediterranean fever, or crystal arthropathies), confirmed by a rheumatologist * Healthy volunteers without a history of rheumatic or chronic inflammatory disease (for the control group) * Ability to undergo non-invasive skin autofluorescence measurement * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) * Chronic kidney disease with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m² * Active malignancy or history of malignancy within the past 5 years * Presence of acute infection or acute inflammatory condition at the time of assessment * Secondary causes of systemic inflammation unrelated to the underlying rheumatic disease (e.g., uncontrolled endocrine disorders, chronic liver disease) * Use of medications known to markedly affect AGE accumulation or skin autofluorescence measurements (e.g., recent high-dose systemic glucocorticoids) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Presence of significant skin conditions (e.g., extensive dermatitis, scars, tattoos, or burns) at the measurement site that may interfere with skin autofluorescence assessment * Inability to comply with study procedures or to provide informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Skin Autofluorescence-Derived Advanced Glycation End Product Level | Baseline (single study visit) | Advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation assessed non-invasively by skin autofluorescence measurement using a validated AGE Reader device, expressed in arbitrary units (AU). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Comparison of AGE Levels Between Rheumatic Disease Subtypes | Baseline (single study visit) | Comparison of skin autofluorescence-derived advanced glycation end-product (AGE) levels among different rheumatic disease subgroups and healthy controls. |
| Association Between AGE Levels and Inflammatory Markers | Baseline | Association between skin autofluorescence-derived AGE levels and systemic inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). |
Contacts
Primary ContactAltuğ Güner, MD
Outcome results
None listed