Lp(a) lipoprotein and lipids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: serum levels and relationship to inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in lipid profiles, Lp(a) lipoprotein, and acute phase reactants are associated with early atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The associations of Lp(a) levels with atherosclerotic disorders, diabetes, RA, and renal diseases suggest that Lp(a) might be involved in autoimmune reactions.


METHODS
Eighty-seven women with RA diagnosed according to American Rheumatism Association criteria (mean age 45.4+/-9.4 years) were recruited and 50 healthy women (mean age 44+/-10.7 years) included as a control group. Serum Lp(a), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and C-reactive protein levels were analyzed.


RESULTS
In the RA and C groups, serum Lp(a) levels were 39.2+/-20.6 mg/dl and 14.8+/-9.7 mg/dl, respectively (P<0.001). The TC levels were 188.4+/-41.8 mg/dl and 185.3+/-19.3 mg/dl (P>0.05), TG levels were 124.5+/-50.1 mg/dl and 94.6+/-24.9 mg/dl (P<0.01), HDL-C levels were 40.0+/-7.4 mg/dl and 52.8+/-4.8 mg/dl (P<0.01), and LDL-C levels were 123.4+/-24.6 mg/dl and 113.3+/-21.1 mg/dl (P>0.05). While serum CRP levels showed a positive correlation with Lp(a), they correlated negatively with HDL-C levels (r=0.83 and P<0.0001, r=-0.49 and P<0.0001, respectively). It was meaningful that Lp(a) correlated negatively with serum HDL-C level (r=-0.36, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that higher serum Lp(a), lower HDL-C, higher TG level, and a high ratio of TC/HDL-C might show high risk of atherosclerosis. Inflammation in RA may cause changes in HDL-C and Lp(a) metabolisms.
Department of Cardiology, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli, Turkey. ddursunoglu@tnn.net
Dursun
D
Dursunoğlu
Harun
H
Evrengül
Bülent
B
Polat
Halil
H
Tanriverdi
Veli
V
Cobankara
Asuman
A
Kaftan
Mustafa
M
Kiliç
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol