Insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients

ObjectivesTo assess insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to the clinical, inflammatory and biochemical characteristics of these patients.Patients and methodsSixty-six untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease duration less than 1 year along with age and sex matched controls were studied. Disease activity score (DAS28) was used to assess disease activity. Plasma levels of C- reactive protein (CRP), glucose, insulin and complete lipid profile were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).ResultsRA patients revealed high grade systemic inflammation compared to control group p < 0.0001. Patients with high disease activity were more insulin resistant than patients with moderate disease activity P < 0.0001.ConclusionThe findings of the present study showed that early untreated RA patients are characterized by a severe insulin resistant state that is driven primarily by disease activity and systemic inflammation.