RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Serum relaxin in systemic sclerosis.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 2164
OP 2166
VO 32
IS 11
A1 Nicola Giordano
A1 Panayotis Papakostas
A1 Barbara Lucani
A1 Alessandra Amendola
A1 Fiorenza Cipolli
A1 Vita Maria Agate
A1 Emilio Battisti
A1 Giuseppe Martini
A1 Ranuccio Nuti
YR 2005
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/32/11/2164.abstract
AB 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.