Association between serum uric acid and inflammation markers in ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with tumor necrosis factor-α or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract

Objectives: Uric acid has an important role in the production of various inflammatory cytokines such as tumornecrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Although serum uric acid levels in various rheumatic diseases have been performedthe relationships between serum uric acid levels with inflammatory markers and Bath Ankylosing SpondylitisDisease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores in ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with anti-TNF-α andnonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have not been described yet. The aim of this study was tocompare the relationships between serum uric acid levels, inflammatory markers and BASDAI scores inankylosing spondylitis patients treated anti-TNF-α and NSAIDs.Methods: A total of 132 ankylosing spondylitis patients fulfilling the 1984 Modified New York Criteria whohad serum uric acid, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels in medical records wereincluded in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients were divided in two groups (anti-TNF-α andNSAIDs). Their files were examined in detail. Later demographic and laboratory features were recorded to theresearch form.Results: Serum uric acid levels were significantly lower in the anti-TNF-α group (mean: 4.9 mg/dL, range:4.10-5.45 mg/dL) than in the NSAIDs group (mean: 5.20 mg/dL, range 4.70-5.90 mg/dL) (p = 0.021). Also,positive correlations were found between C-reactive protein (p = 0.003) and BASDAI (p = 0.009) with serumuric acid.Conclusions: According to this study, we can consider that serum uric acid level could be used as aninflammatory laboratory marker, such as C-reactive protein in ankylosing spondylitis patients. However, webelieve that more studies are needed about this research.