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Serum Relaxin in Systemic Sclerosis
NICOLA GIORDANO, PANAYOTIS PAPAKOSTAS, BARBARA LUCANI, ALESSANDRA AMENDOLA, FIORENZA CIPOLLI, VITA MARIA AGATE, EMILIO BATTISTI, GIUSEPPE MARTINI, and RANUCCIO NUTI
ABSTRACT.
Objective. To evaluate serum levels of relaxin (RLX), a hormone with acknowledged antifibrotic activity, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods. We performed a pilot study of 50 outpatients with SSc and 50 healthy subjects. Serum RLX was measured using the relaxin ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test. Results. Serum RLX appeared to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with SSc compared to controls. RLX appeared significantly increased (p < 0.001) in male patients compared to male controls, and in female patients compared to female controls. RLX was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in female patients and female controls compared to male patients and male controls. Conclusion. In patients with SSc, the increased level of RLX represents a defensive response against the fibrotic process. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:2164-6) Key Indexing Terms:
SCLERODERMA From the Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. N. Giordano, MD, Associate Professor; P. Papakostas, MD, Assistant Professor; B. Lucani, Biologist, Assistant Professor; A. Amendola, MD, Assistant Professor; F. Cipolli, MD, Assistant Professor; V.M. Agate, MD, Assistant Professor; E. Battisti, MD, Assistant Professor; G. Martini, MD, Associate Professor; R. Nuti, MD, Full Professor. Address reprint requests to Dr. N. Giordano, Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte, viale Bracci 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. E-mail: giordanon@unisi.it Accepted for publication June 20, 2005. |