Background: Behçet’s disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with a variable clinical course. This study evaluated the association between inflammatory indices, clinical involvement, and mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included 444 patients with BD. Clinical characteristics and laboratory data were systematically retrieved from electronic medical record system. Inflammatory indices (NLR, PLR, SII) were calculated to reflect systemic inflammation. In addition, CRP-based composite indices (IBI-NLR and IBI-SII) were derived to integrate cellular and acute-phase inflammatory responses. Disease manifestations, major organ involvement, comorbidities, and mortality were recorded to comprehensively assess disease burden and clinical outcomes. Results: In multivariable analysis, vascular involvement was associated with increased ESR level (OR = 1.013, 95% CI: 1.002–1.024, p = 0.018), and male sex (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 1.83–5.67, p < 0.001;). ROC analysis showed the highest discriminatory performance for vascular involvement, with IBI-NLR (AUC = 0.624, p < 0.001), IBI-SII (AUC = 0.609, p = 0.001) and NLR (AUC = 0.597, p = 0.004). Moreover, NLR (AUC = 0.571, p = 0.017), IBI-NLR (AUC = 0.576, p = 0.010), and IBI-SII (AUC = 0.562, p = 0.036) had modest discrimination for major organ involvement. In contrast, inflammatory indexes were not predictive for mortality (p > 0.05 for all). Mortality was independently associated with higher creatinine (OR = 1.086, p = 0.048), higher ESR (OR = 1.023, p = 0.046), and lower uric acid levels (OR = 0.454, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Inflammatory indices may not predict mortality in BD but can help identify vascular and major organ involvement. Male sex and ESR level are associated more severe disease, while mortality is associated with renal dysfunction and systemic inflammation in BD.

Background/Objectives: Isthmin-1 (ISM1) is a secreted protein involved in immune regulation, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Although ISM1 has been implicated in chronic inflammatory conditions, its clinical relevance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate serum ISM1 levels in RA patients and assess their associations with disease activity, autoantibody status, and inflammatory markers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 RA patients fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum ISM1 concentrations were measured using ELISA. Disease activity was assessed using DAS28-CRP and DAS28-ESR. Statistical analyses included group comparisons, correlation testing, multivariate linear regression, and ROC curve analysis to evaluate the predictive performance of ISM1 for remission or low disease activity. Results: Serum ISM1 levels were significantly lower in RA patients than in controls (454 ± 378 vs. 972 ± 809 ng/L, p < 0.001). ISM1 concentrations were inversely correlated with CRP, ESR, and both DAS28 indices. Multivariate regression confirmed independent associations between lower ISM1 concentrations and higher disease activity. ISM1 levels were significantly reduced in RF- and anti-CCP-positive patients, as well as in treatment-naïve early RA. ROC analysis identified a cut-off value of 673.73 ng/L for predicting remission or low disease activity, with an AUC of 0.713 (95% CI: 0.596–0.820), 100% specificity, and 38.9% sensitivity. Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that serum ISM1 is independently associated with disease activity and autoantibody positivity in RA. High ISM1 levels may serve as a specific indicator of clinical remission or low disease activity, supporting its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for disease monitoring.

Background: Behçet’s disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with a variable clinical course. This study evaluated the association between inflammatory indices, clinical involvement, and mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included 444 patients with BD. Clinical characteristics and laboratory data were systematically retrieved from electronic medical record system. Inflammatory indices (NLR, PLR, SII) were calculated to reflect systemic inflammation. In addition, CRP-based composite indices (IBI-NLR and IBI-SII) were derived to integrate cellular and acute-phase inflammatory responses. Disease manifestations, major organ involvement, comorbidities, and mortality were recorded to comprehensively assess disease burden and clinical outcomes. Results: In multivariable analysis, vascular involvement was associated with increased ESR level (OR=1.013, 95% CI: 1.002–1.024, p=0.018), and male sex (OR=3.22, 95% CI: 1.83–5.67, p<0.001;). ROC analysis showed the highest discriminatory performance for vascular involvement, with IBI-NLR (AUC=0.624, p 0.05 for all). Mortality was independently associated with higher creatinine (OR=1.086, p=0.048), higher ESR (OR=1.023, p=0.046), and lower uric acid levels (OR=0.454, p=0.002). Conclusions: Inflammatory indices may not predict mortality in BD but can help identify vascular and major organ involvement. Male sex and ESR level are associated more severe disease, while mortality is associated with renal dysfunction and systemic inflammation in BD.

Aim:Behçet’s disease (BD) is characterized by the presence of skin and mucosal lesions, systemic inflammation, and vasculitis. The objective of this study was to examine changes in urotensin II (UII) and sclerostin levels in patients with BD and to assess their correlation with atherosclerosis. Material and Methods:The study population comprised 32 patients with BD, 39 with systemic lupus erythematosus, and 30 healthy controls. A series of clinical examinations were conducted, and blood samples were obtained to analyze UII and sclerostin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was evaluated using Doppler ultrasonography. Results:UII levels were significantly elevated in the BD group compared with the other groups (p<0.001). Conversely, sclerostin levels were markedly diminished in the BD group (p<0.001). In the BD group, UII levels were positively correlated with cIMT (r=0.513, p<0.001), whereas sclerostin levels were negatively correlated with cIMT (r=-0.270, p=0.020). Conclusion:Elevated UII and reduced sclerostin levels are crucial biomarkers of atherosclerosis risk in individuals with BD. These findings help to elucidate the cardiovascular complications associated with BD.

Objective: Identify clinical and biochemical predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis (2010–2024), quantifying the contributions of traditional risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes) and RA-related (Rheumatoid Arthritis) disease characteristics. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 232 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) followed at our rheumatology clinic between January 2010 and March 2024. RA was classified by the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria. Demographics (age, sex), disease duration, body mass index, smoking, and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease) were extracted from records. Baseline laboratories included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), urea, creatinine, lipid profile (total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides), uric acid, and HbA1c. Disease markers (RF, anti-CCP, HLA-B27), cumulative treatment exposure, treatment modifications, and use of csDMARDs (Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug), bDMARDs (Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF/non-TNF)), and Januse Kinase (JAK) inhibitors were recorded. Patients were stratified by major adverse cardiovascular events (Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): non-fatal MI (Miyocardial Infarction), ischemic stroke, cardiovascular death, or coronary revascularization). Results: Results: MACE occurred in 41 patients. Compared with those without MACE, affected patients were older and had more treatment changes and prior biologic exposures. They showed worse renal indices (higher urea/creatinine) and an adverse metabolic profile— higher total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and HbA1c. Sex, disease duration, Body Mass Index (BMI), ESR/CRP, time to first bDMARD, Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), uric acid and HDL did not differ. Cardiometabolic comorbidities were strongly enriched among MACE cases (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia). In multivariable logistic regression, dyslipidemia remained the only independent predictor of MACE (OR 27.04; 95% CI 9.18–79.68; p<0.001). Hypertension and the number of treatment modifications showed non-significant-trends. Conclusion: Conclusion: In RA, MACE was associated with older age and metabolic risk, but dyslipidemia was the only independent predictor. These findings support prioritizing lipid monitoring and cardiovascular risk management in routine RA care.