The relation between serum bone morphogenetic protein-7 and severity of enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis

Abstract EN

Background Enthesitis is an inflammation at the insertions of ligaments, tendons, or joint capsules to bone and is one of the crucial clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) belongs to the transforming growth factor-b superfamily of cytokines that play a direct role in the pathogenesis of psoriatic enthesitis.

High-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound is a useful tool to evaluate superficial structures such as tendons, ligaments, bursae, and joints in PsA.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate serum BMP-7 levels in PsA patients as an indicator of the severity of psoriatic enthesitis in correlation with ultrasonographic findings.

Materials and methods This study involved 30 PsA patients and 10 healthy controls.

The serum BMP-7 level (pg/ml) was measured through a blood sample.

The clinical severity of skin affection in psoriatic patients was estimated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).

Lower limb enthuses were assessed using the Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System (GUESS).

Results PsA patients showed significantly higher serum BMP-7 levels compared with controls.

The serum BMP-7 level showed a positive correlation with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the disease activity score using DAS 28, the PASI% score, and GUESS but no correlation with disease duration.

Conclusion The serum BMP-7 level can be used as a marker of disease activity in PsA and as a marker of the severity of psoriatic enthesitis.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound can be used for early detection of subclinical enthesitis.