Although radiographic evidence of sacroiliitis is included in the definition, it is not mandatory for the diagnosis of juvenile AS. The aim of this study is to describe pelvic enthesitis-osteitis MRI findings accompanying sacroiliitis in a group of juvenile AS. Eleven patients suffering from low back pain underwent MRI of the pelvis and were enrolled in this retrospective study. The PHA-739358 datasheet mean duration of symptoms was 12 months. The mean age of the 11 cases in our study was 12.18 years (range, 6-19). There were eight boys and

three girls. Anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis were obtained in all patients. Sacroiliac joint involvement was detected in all of the cases by pelvic MRI. Pathologic signal changes were detected in the pubic symphisis (osteitis pubis) in ten cases, trochanteric bursitis in six cases, coxofemoral joint in five cases, crista iliaca in three cases, and ischion pubis in three cases. There was increased T2 check details signal intensity in eight of the 11 cases (72.7%) relevant with soft tissue edema/inflammation. This high correlation between sacroiliitis and enthesitis suggests that enthesitis

could be an important finding in juvenile AS.”
“Objective: Interaction of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with their receptors (RAGE) plays an important role in inflammation in auto-immune diseases. Several functional polymorphisms of RAGE have been described. In this study we analysed the role of RAGE polymorphisms in disease susceptibility for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In addition, we investigated whether these polymorphisms in SLE are associated with serum levels of soluble RAGE (sRAGE), renal involvement (lupus nephritis (LN)) and its outcome. Methods: For this cross-sectional study DNA samples

of 97 SLE patients, 114 LN patients and 429 healthy controls (HC) were genotyped for four GPCR Compound Library order RAGE polymorphisms: -429 T/C, -374 T/A, 2184 A/G and Gly82Ser. Differences in genotype frequencies and allele frequencies were tested between patients and HCs. In SLE patients, sRAGE was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, association of genotypes with sRAGE and disease severity in LN was analysed. Results: The C allele of -429 T/C, the T allele of -374 T/A and the G allele of 2184 A/G were significantly more prevalent in SLE and LN compared with HC. In LN, the C allele of RAGE -429 T/C, the A allele of -374 T/A and the G allele of RAGE 2184 A/G polymorphism were significantly associated with more proteinuria and worse renal function during the first two years of treatment. No association of genotype with sRAGE was found. Conclusion: RAGE polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to SLE and LN. In addition, some of these polymorphisms are likely to be associated with disease severity and initial response to treatment in LN. Lupus (2012) 21, 959-968.