Serum Lipids in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis And It's Relation to Drug Therapy

Abstract

Objective To detect the changes in serum Lipids among Iraqi patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and the effects of drug therapy.
Patients and methods Fifty Iraqi patients with untreated active Rheumatoid Arthritis and 50 matched healthy control were studied with concentration on estimation of fasting serum Lipid profile which is repeated after 3month treatment with different disease modifying anti Rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) regimens.
Results Fifty Iraqi patients were included in this prospective study 47 females (94%) and 3 males (6%). The mean age of patients was (45±3.20).
fifty healthy individuals were included in this study as a control group 45 females (90%) and 5 males (10%) the mean age of the control group was (44.9±2.9).
Our results showed a significant reduction of VLDL, LDL, HDL, serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride in-patients with active RA (p=<0.05, 0.001. 0.001, 0.001 and 0.018 respectively). There was a significant relationship found between ESR and VLDL (P<0.05), serum triglyceride (P<0.04) and serum cholesterol (P<0.01). And there was a significant relationship between serum lipids and articular index VLDL (P<0.05), serum cholesterol (P<0.01) and TG (P=0.01).
After 3-months treatment with Methotrexate or Methotrexate + Chloroquine ± large dose steroid or Chloroquine alone.
There was a significant reduction of inflammatory activity and serum lipids return to levels similar to that of control group.
Conclusions:
The dyslipidemia associated with active RA characterized by low serum lipids and can be normalized by controlling disease activity with antirheumatic drugs including steroids.