Moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia and immune activation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia related to folate deficiency has been described in patients with cardiovascular risk and also in patients with autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
In 33 patients with RA, serum concentrations of homocysteine and cysteine, of B-vitamins folate and vitamin B(12), and of immune activation markers neopterin and soluble 75-kDa TNF-receptor (sTNF-R75) were measured.


RESULTS
A significant proportion of patients presented with elevated homocysteine and cysteine concentrations in comparison to reference ranges of healthy control persons. Moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia coincided with decreased serum folate and with higher concentrations of sTNF-R75 and neopterin, but it was rather independent from methotrexate (MTX) therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The coincidence of higher homocysteine and lower folate concentrations with increased concentrations of immune activation markers in patients with RA suggests that immune activation could be involved in the development of hyperhomocysteinaemia.
Schroecksnadel
Katharina
K
Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Fritz Pregl Strasse 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Frick
Barbara
B
Kaser
Sabine
S
Wirleitner
Barbara
B
Ledochowski
Maximilian
M
Mur
Erich
E
Herold
Manfred
M
Fuchs
Dietmar
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D006710:Homocysteine; D003545:Cysteine; D014805:Vitamin B 12