Cysteine-rich protein 61 level assessment in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis patients as a predictor of disease activity and atherosclerosis

Abstract Background Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that has enduring impacts on the cardiovascular system utilizing non-invasive methods such as carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) ratio assessments together with a known vascular injury marker as Cysteine-rich protein 61(Cyr61) could provide more clarity in evaluating subclinical atherosclerosis as an indicator for potential cardiovascular risk. Aim of the work Assessment of Cyr61 and its relation with disease activity, CIMT and brachial artery FMD ratio in JIA patients inorder to examine the possibility of using Cyr61 as a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. Results This study included forty JIA patients and twenty matched healthy controls: All patients were assessed clinically by juvenile arthritis disease activity score 27, laboratory investigations, Cyr61 and ultrasound assessment of CIMT and brachial artery FMD ratio.. Serum Cyr61 was found to be significantly increased in patients compared to control with significant increase in active patient. Significant positive correlations were detected between Cyr61 disease activity and atherogenic indices, on the other hand no correlation was found with CIMT, and FMD. Conclusion The Cyr61 correlation with disease activity score, cholesterol level, LDL/HDL, Cholesterol/HDL could indicate that inflammation driven metabolic disorder is active early in the disease and that serum Cyr61 could act as an early predictor to this important risk factor for cardiovascular disease even before clinical and or radiological manifested disease.