Search for: [Abstract = "udied in two distinct populations. The first group consisted of patients with inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis \(26 patients\) and ankylosing spondylitis \(45 patients\) and a control group \(29 patients\). The second group consisted of newly diagnosed hypertension patients \(38 patients\) and the control group \(29 patients\). Information about concomitant diseases, medications, smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease, physical examination, anthropometric measurements and vital signs were obtained from each patient in both groups. Patients with inflammatory joint diseases had an additional disease activity assessment performed\: patients with RA \- DAS 28\; patients with AS \- BASDAI\; while patients with hypertension had an additional 24\-hour blood pressure monitoring performed. Additionally, vascular stiffness was assessed and laboratory tests were performed, including evaluation of inflammatory interleukins and indices of vascular endothelial dysfunction. The levels of IL\-6, IL\-18, TNFα, fibrinogen, pentraxin 3, sICAM, sVCAM, E\-selectin, vWF, tissue plasminogen activator, fibrinogen were evaluated in the group of patients with inflammatory joint disease and in the control group. The levels of ITAC, GM\-CSF, Fractaline, IFNγ, IL\-10, MIP\-3α, IL\-12, IL\-13, IL\-17A, IL\-1β, IL\-2, IL\-21, IL\-23, IL\-5, IL\-6, IL\-7, IL\-8, MIP\-1α, MIP\-1β, TNFα, IL\-15, Ucn2 were eval"]
