The relationship between ultrasonographic femoral cartilage thickness and serum follistatin-like protein 1 in romatoid arthritis patients

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA); symmetrical, erosive synovitis and sometimes characterized by multisystem organ involvement is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. The resulting synovitis leads to deformation of the joint and permanent disability. FSTL-1 is an extracellular glycoprotein expressed from cells of mesenchymal origin. Although its function is still uncertain, its proinflammatory role has been demonstrated in several studies. FSTL-1 has been shown to be an important mediator in the pathogenesis of RA and other autoimmune diseases and the occurrence of arthritis. In addition some studies have also shown that FSTL-1 has an effect on cartilage and has been involved in both production and destruction. The study included 56 patients and 34 healthy volunteers who met the 2010 ACR / EULAR Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria. In the evaluation of patients; WBC (White Blood Cell Count), HGB (hemoglobin), sedimentation, CRP (C-Reactive Protein), Beck Depression Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Quality of Life Rheumatoid Arthritis Scale (QOL-RA), Nottingham Health Profile were completed. DAS-28 disease activity score was also calculated in patients. Serum follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The femoral cartilage was measured in both knees using linear probe from the lateral femur condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA) and medial femur condyle (MFC). Serum FSTL-1 levels were significantly lower in RA patients than in controls. There was no correlation between FSTL-1 and disease activity markers sedimentation, CRP, DAS-28. When femoral cartilage thickness of the patient and control groups were compared; right FLC, right MFC, right ICA, left LFC, left MFC, left ICA thickness were thinner in the patient group compared to the control group. Right FLC, right MFC, left LFC, left MFC thinness were statistically significant (p <0.05). When the relationship between serum FSTL-1 level and femoral cartilage thickness was examined; There was no correlation between FSTL-1 level and right LFC, right MFC, right ICA, left LFC, left MFC, left ICA measurements. There was no correlation between FSTL-1 levels and HAQ, QOL-RA, Beck Depression Scale and Nottingham Health Profile scores. As a result; We investigated the relationship between FSTL-1 level and cartilage thickness in rheumatoid arthritis and we did not find any correlation between the effects of FSTL-1 on cartilage in patients. In order to better understand the parameters of our study in the pathogenesis, clinical course and follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis disease, further and extensive studies are needed.