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For a long time, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was associated with polycythemia with chronic hypoxia. Epidemiological studies of recent years show that 17 to 24 % of patients with COPD have anemia and only 6 to 10 % have polycythemia. Anemia in patients with COPD can be caused by concomitant pathology or pathogenetically related to the underlying disease and may be referred to anemia of chronic disease (ACD). Anemia is an ind ependent factor in the severity of dyspnea, reduced tolerance to stress and survival of patients. A high level of hepcidin in the serum of blood, which occurs as a result of systemic inflammation, impairs absorption of iron, and also leads to sequestering of iron in macrophages, plays a key role in the development of ACD. Investigating the mechanisms of occurrence of this anemia and determining the optimal ways of it`s correction can improve the quality of life, reduce the overall cost of treatment and disability. The results of a self-study show that 6.5 % of patients with COPD have iron deficiency anemia and 16.3 % of ACD. Patients with iron deficiency anemia have serum iron and ferritin level probably lower in comparison with patients without anemia, with erythrocytosis and ACD. In the group of patients with COPD and ACD, low serum levels were detected in comparison with patients without anemia and erythrocytosis, at the same time as with high levels of ferritin, which was significantly higher compared to patients in other groups.

Background:During last years we are seeking for new biomarkers of early or even preclinical diseases stages, precise definition of disease activity and accurate prediction of the disease course as well as biomarkers of treatment efficiency. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) considering as a method for early or even preclinical diagnostic tool for systemic scleroderma, at the same time there is enough data that dermatomyositis (DM) characterized with similar NFC changes along with other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) due to the peripheral vascular involvement.Objectives:The goal of our research was aimed to analyze possible association between capillaroscopic alterations and angiogenic, tissue remodeling factors in patients with DM.Methods:44 patients with DM were examined and included in the study. NFC we performed usingDino-Lite CapillaryScope with 200 magnification.We assessed nailfold capillary density (NCD), presence of microhemorrhages, giant, dilated and ramified capillaries, scleroderma patterns (defined as an early, active or late pattern) and neovascular pattern (defined as an active and late scleroderma patterns). We use Manual Muscle Testing 8 (MMT8), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Myositis Disease Activity Assessment Tool (MDAAT), Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI), physician’s VAS, patient’s VAS, serum muscle enzymes levels to asses disease activity. The level of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assayed by the enzyme immunoassay system in the blood serum. We divided patients into 4 groups: 1stgroup – 17 DM patients with early NFC scleroderma pattern, 2ndgroup included 11 DM patients with active NFC scleroderma pattern, 3rdgroup – 6 DM patients with late NFC scleroderma pattern and 4thgroup included 10 DM patients with no any significant NFC alterations.Results:We didn’t find any significant difference of the VEGF level between examined groups, though the level of VEGF in the 1stgroup was – 473,65±48,24 pg/ml, 2nd– 412,89±106,24 pg/ml, 3rd– 283,0±71,93 pg/ml, 4th– 305,9±45,89 pg/ml (p=0,12, F=2,06), however at the same time we compare the level of VEGF between patients with long disease duration and newly onset disease and VEGF was higher among newly onset active DM patients – 465,32±54,54pg/ml VS 324,96±41,16 pg/ml (p=0,042, F=4,365). The level of TGF-α in the 1stgroup was 100,82±8,98 ng/ml, 2nd– 65,78±9,21 ng/ml, 3rd– 56,9±5,01 ng/ml, 4th– 65,5±10,2 ng/ml, though it was significantly higher in the 1stgroup patients (p=0,002, F=5,88).Conclusion:According to our results we can assume that VEGF and TGF-α could be applied as biomarkers of disease activity and duration, however more data is required.Disclosure of Interests:None declared