RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Changes in lipid profile during infliximab and corticosteroid treatment in rheumatoid arthritis
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 958
OP 961
DO 10.1136/ard.2006.059691
VO 66
IS 7
A1 M J L Peters
A1 M Vis
A1 V P van Halm
A1 G J Wolbink
A1 A E Voskuyl
A1 W F Lems
A1 B A C Dijkmans
A1 J W R Twisk
A1 M H M T de Koning
A1 R J van de Stadt
A1 M T Nurmohamed
YR 2007
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/66/7/958.abstract
AB Objective: To evaluate the effects of infliximab and corticosteroid treatment on the lipid profile in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Infliximab infusions were given at weeks 0, 2, 6 and then every 8 weeks. Before each infusion, disease activity parameters (Disease Activity Index 28-Joint Score (DAS28)) C reactive protein (CRP) and lipid levels (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) and apolipoprotein B) were measured in 80 consecutive patients with RA, who completed the study period of 48 weeks. Longitudinal analyses were used to investigate (1) the course of lipid levels over a period of time and (2) the relationship between lipids, prednisone dose and disease activity. Results: Infliximab treatment causes a significant reduction in disease activity and a concomitant decrease in prednisone dose. Although they initially improved significantly, all lipid levels had returned to baseline levels after 48 weeks, except for apo A1. Longitudinal analyses revealed significant yet opposite associations between lipid levels and disease activity and between lipid levels and prednisone dose. DAS28 improvement by 1 point was associated with an increase of 0.016 mmol/l (0.618 mg/dl) total cholesterol and 0.045 mmol/l (1.737 mg/dl) HDL-cholesterol. Reduction of 10 mg prednisone was associated with a decrease of 0.04 mmol/l (1.544 mg/dl) total cholesterol and 0.16 mmol/l (6.177 mg/dl) HDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: Overall, no changes in serum lipid levels were observed after 48 weeks of infliximab treatment. The initial beneficial effects of infliximab on the lipid profile, by means of a reduction of disease activity, are attenuated by a concomitant decrease in prednisone dose.