Rheumatic diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions that can lead to long-term tissue damage and increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are harmful molecules that accumulate in the body over time and are known to promote inflammation and oxidative stress. Increased AGE burden has been implicated in several chronic diseases; however, its role in rheumatic diseases has not been fully clarified.
This observational, cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the accumulation of AGEs in patients with various rheumatic diseases compared with healthy individuals. AGE levels will be assessed non-invasively using skin autofluorescence measurements.
By comparing AGE burden between patients and healthy controls, this study seeks to improve understanding of the potential role of AGEs in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases and to explore their usefulness as a non-invasive biomarker in clinical practice.
Age between 18 and 75 years
Diagnosis of an inflammatory rheumatic disease (including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, connective tissue diseases, Behçet disease, familial Mediterranean fever, or crystal arthropathies), confirmed by a rheumatologist
Healthy volunteers without a history of rheumatic or chronic inflammatory disease (for the control group)
Ability to undergo non-invasive skin autofluorescence measurement
Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2)
Chronic kidney disease with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²
Active malignancy or history of malignancy within the past 5 years
Presence of acute infection or acute inflammatory condition at the time of assessment
The study population consists of adult patients aged 18 to 75 years diagnosed with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who are followed at a tertiary rheumatology outpatient clinic, as well as age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers without a history of rheumatic or chronic inflammatory disease. All participants will undergo a single, non-invasive skin autofluorescence measurement to assess advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation.
Case-control
Prospective
Not listed
Skin Autofluorescence-Derived Advanced Glycation End Product Level
Advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation assessed non-invasively by skin autofluorescence measurement using a validated AGE Reader device, expressed in arbitrary units (AU).
Comparison of AGE Levels Between Rheumatic Disease Subtypes
Comparison of skin autofluorescence-derived advanced glycation end-product (AGE) levels among different rheumatic disease subgroups and healthy controls.
Association Between AGE Levels and Inflammatory Markers
Association between skin autofluorescence-derived AGE levels and systemic inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
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