The Relationship Between Inflammatory Parameters And Atherosclerosis With Ischemic Modified Albumin Levels In Sjögren Syndrome

The goal of this study was to determine ischemic modified albumin (IMA) levels and the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in Primary Sjögren Syndrome(pSS) patients. We also aimed to search the relationship between inflammatory parameters and atherosclerosis with ischemic modified albumin levels. Twenty pSS patients and 20 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Clinical evaluations were done by using clinical parameters [Visual analog scale (VAS), dryness of mouth and eyes] and laboratory parameters [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)]. All patients were females. The mean age of all subjects was 46.6±9.1. The mean age for pSS patients was 47.1±7.7 years, and 46.1±10 years for healthy subjects. The duration of disease in pSS patients was 5.8±4.4 years. There were no statistically significant differences between IMA levels of patients and healthy subjects (506.4±52.8 AbsU and 482.7±34.7 AbsU respectively; p=0.101). There were also no statistically significant corelation for clinical parameters. The CIMT were statistically significantly higher for patients when compared to healthy subjects (0.70±0.13 mm and 0.61±0.09 mm respectively; p= 0.016). When we analyzed the relationship between CIMT and clinical parameters, we determined statistically significant positive corelation between CIMT and age (r=0.700, p<0.001), and ESR (r=0.312, p=0.05). As a result, our study revealed normal IMA levels and higher CIMT levels, and no corelation between both of them. The higher levels of CIMT levels may be a precursor of cardiovascular disease in PSS patients without cardiovascular risk factors. Further clinical studies are now required to evaluate IMA levels in pSS