Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1968246 Clinica Chimica Acta 2006 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

BackgroundPatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently display an atherogenic lipid profile which has been linked with inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokine in RA may be involved in the development of the disturbed lipid metabolism. We investigated whether infliximab, an anti-TNF-α therapy, may modify the lipid profile.Methods56 consecutive RA patients were treated with infliximab (3 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2, 6, 14, 22, 30). Lipid profile and CRP were assayed at baseline and before infusion at weeks 6 and 30. Baseline values were compared with those in 56 healthy volunteers.ResultsAt baseline, the concentrations of HDL-cholesterol were lower in RA patients than in the controls (1.3 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.2 mmol/L; p < 0.01). The triglyceride concentrations (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 1.3 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p < 0.01), the ratio of total cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol (4.3 ± 1.6 vs. 3.2 ± 0.5, p < 0.001) and LDL-cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol (2.6 ± 1.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in RA patients than in controls. After 6 weeks of infliximab therapy, the mean total cholesterol concentration increased by 25% (p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol by 24% (p < 0.001) and HDL-cholesterol by 30% (p < 0.001). The decrease in CRP levels to 30 week inversely correlated with the increase in HDL-cholesterol (r = − 0.47, p = 0.005).ConclusionsInfliximab administration is associated with important increases in cholesterol levels in all its forms but as no significant beneficial effect on the atherogenic ratio.

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