title: Serum lipids and lipoprotein concentrations in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were measured in 51 women with rheumatoid arthritis treated with both nonsteroidal and steroidal drugs and compared to a group of women with rheumatoid arthritis not receiving anti-inflammatory drugs and to a healthy control group. Significantly lower concentrations of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were found in the rheumatoid patients on nonsteroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, while no difference was found in high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. In the group of rheumatoid patients who received no nonsteroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the triglyceride level was higher than in the control group, and that of HDL-C was lower. Total cholesterol and LDL-C levels were higher in the patients not on anti-inflammatory drugs than in patients receiving anti-inflammatory drugs. The results of this study suggest that hyperlipidemia is not one of the predisposing factors for coronary disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving anti-inflammatory therapy. Anti-inflammatory drugs may play a role in the regulation of serum lipids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol