Significant effects of biologic therapy on lipid profiles and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To investigate: 1) the associations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related inflammation or rheumatoid factor (RF)/anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) positivity with lipid profiles and insulin resistance (IR); 2) the effects of biologic therapy on lipid profiles and IR; and 3) potential predictors for the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Serum levels of lipid profiles were determined by enzymatic methods in 32 adalimumab-treated patients, 16 etanercept-treated patients, 24 tocilizumab-treated patients, and 20 biologic naïve patients. Atherogenic index (AI), which corresponds to... Mehr ...