Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating Traditional Chinese Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Mice
Published on: October 27, 2023
Differences in carotid atherosclerosis between patients with ankylosing spondylitis treated with tumor necrosis
Enrico Maria Zardi1, Maria Elena Pipita, Chiara Giorgi
1Hospitalist Service, "Campus Bio-Medico" University, Rome Radiology Department, S Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Urbino Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza," Sant'Andrea Hospital Immunorheumatology Unit, "Campus Bio-Medico" University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
An increased vascular risk is present in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this report, we evaluate the presence and grade of atherosclerosis in patients with AS, uninterruptedly treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists for 2 years, in comparison to that in a nontreated group of healthy controls.Fourteen patients with AS and 14 healthy controls underwent carotid sonography to measure intima-media thickness (IMT) and to evaluate the presence of plaque. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, glycemia, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were also recorded.Patients with AS showed significantly lower values of mean and maximum IMT at the level of the common carotid (P = .02 and .04, respectively) and the carotid bulb (P = .0006 and .0005, respectively) compared to those of healthy controls. They also had a number of carotid plaques significantly lower than that of healthy controls (P = .02). No differences were found in IMT values at the level of internal carotid between the 2 populations.The significantly lower carotid atherosclerosis found in patients with AS treated with TNF antagonists than in healthy controls shows the important complementary role of this treatment in reducing vascular disease progression probably by decreasing inflammation.
More Related Videos
11:00A Model of Disturbed Flow-Induced Atherosclerosis in Mouse Carotid Artery by Partial Ligation and a Simple Method of RNA Isolation from Carotid Endothelium
Published on: June 22, 2010
07:51Implantation of a Carotid Cuff for Triggering Shear-stress Induced Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: January 13, 2012
Related Concept Videos
Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become...
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
Factors Affecting α-Alkylation of Ketones: Choice of Base
The reaction involving bases like EtO− whose conjugate acid EtOH (pKa = 15.9) is stronger than the ketone (pKa = 19.2) results in an equilibrium mixture with higher ketone concentration. As a consequence,...
Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Patient-Related Factors
Age stands as a key determinant in protein-drug binding. Neonates, characterized by low albumin content, experience heightened concentrations of unbound drugs such as phenytoin and...
Sign Test for Matched Pairs
To conduct the sign test, we first calculate the differences in...
Atherosclerosis III: Management