The effect of infliximab treatment on insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
It is well known that increased insulin resistance is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and that tumour necrosis factor-alpha plays an important role in this process. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha antibody. This study investigates the effects of long term infliximab treatment on insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Seven rheumatoid arthritis patients (6 female and 1 male; mean age: 44.6 +/- 12.3, mean duration of disease: 6.8 y) for whom infliximab treatment had been planned at the rheumatology and internal medicine clinics were included. Patients were evaluated during and at the end of the study with a mean follow-up duration of 9.6 months. Fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin levels and serum lipid profile were assessed at baseline and throughout the treatment period (prior to every infusion). Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance model was used for the assessment of insulin sensitivity.


RESULTS
Fasting insulin and Homeostasis Mode Assessment of Insulin Resistance levels decreased after treatment (from 19.4 +/- 7.7 microU/ml to 8.9 +/- 4.1 microU/ml and from 2.4 +/- 1 to 1.1 +/- 0.5, respectively; p < 0.05 for both). No significant change was observed in other parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
An improvement in insulin sensitivity was observed in patients receiving long term infliximab treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
Oguz
F M
FM
Ic Hastaliklari Klinigi, Istanbul-Turkey.
Oguz
A
A
Uzunlulu
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab