Serum Oxytocin Levels in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis and their Association with Disease Activity

ABSTRACT

Objectives Spondyloarthritis refers to a group of chronic inflammatory diseases that particularly involve the sacroiliac joints and spine but may also have an influence on extra-articular involvement in some patients. Oxytocin is a peptide hormone released from the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. It is known to have anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of oxytocin and their potential association with disease activity and spinal mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nrAxSpA).

Material and Methods Seventy-one patients with nrAxSpA, 38 patients with AS and 67 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Disease activity was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, and spinal mobility by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrologic Index. Laboratory examinations included complete blood count, ESR, CRP and oxytocin tests.

Results There was no significant difference in serum levels of oxytocin among the 3 groups (p=0.973). However, serum levels of oxytocin correlated negatively with both ESR (r=− 0.359, p=0.027), CRP (r=− 0.316, p=0.056) and BASDAI scores (r=− 0,448, p=0.005) in patients with AS. On the other hand, serum levels of oxytocin had a negative correlation only with ESR in patients with nrAxSpA (r=− 0.321 p=0.009).Conclusion This study lays the foundation for further studies that may aim to investigate how addition of oxytocin to the treatment regimen impacts on disease activity in patients with AS who exhibit particularly low levels of oxytocin during the active disease period.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Zielsetzung Spondylarthritiden sind chronisch entzündliche Erkrankungen, bei denen insbesondere die Iliosakralgelenke und die Wirbelsäule betroffen sind. Bei einigen Patienten besteht daneben auch eine extraartikuläre Manifestation. Oxytocin ist ein Peptidhormon, das aus dem Hypothalamus freigesetzt und in der Hypophyse gespeichert wird. Es ist bekannt, dass Oxytocin entzündungshemmende Wirkungen hat. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Oxytocin-Serumspiegel und ihren möglichen Zusammenhang mit der Krankheitsaktivität, der Beweglichkeit der Wirbelsäule bei Patienten mit ankylosierender Spondylitis (AS) und nicht radiologischer axialer Spondyloathritis (nrAxSpA) zu untersuchen.

Patienten und Methoden 71 Patienten mit nrAxSpA und 38 Patienten mit AS sowie 67 gesunde Kontrollpersonen wurden in diese Studie eingeschlossen. Die Krankheitsaktivität wurde durch den Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index und die Wirbelsäulenmobilität durch den Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrologic Index bewertet. Die Laboruntersuchungen umfassten vollständige Blutbild-, ESR-, CRP- und Oxytocin-Tests.

Ergebnisse Es gab keinen signifikanten Unterschied in den Serumspiegeln von Oxytocin zwischen den drei Gruppen (p = 0,973). Die Serumspiegel von Oxytocin korrelierten jedoch sowohl mit ESR- (r = − 0,359, p = 0,027) als auch CRP-(r = − 0,316, p = 0,056) und BASDAI-Werten (r = − 0,448, p = 0,005) bei Patienten mit AS negativ . Andererseits hatten die Oxytocin-Serumspiegel nur bei den Patienten mit nrAxSpA eine negative Korrelation mit der ESR (r = − 0,321 p = 0,009).

Schlussfolgerung Diese Studie bildet die Grundlage für weitere Studien, die untersuchen sollen, wie sich die Zugabe von Oxytocin zum Behandlungsschema auf die Krankheitsaktivität bei Patienten mit AS auswirkt, die während der aktiven Krankheitsperiode besonders niedrige Oxytocinspiegel aufweisen.

Key words

ankylosing spondylitis - non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis - disease activity - oxytocin

Schlüsselwörter

Spondylitis ankylosans - nicht radiologische axiale Spondyloarthritis - Oxytocin - Krankheitsaktivität

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