Insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to the clinical, inflammatory and biochemical characteristics of these patients.


METHODS
Sixty-six untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease duration less than 1 year along with age and sex matched controls were studied. Disease activity score (DAS28) was used to assess disease activity. Plasma levels of C- reactive protein (CRP), glucose, insulin and complete lipid profile were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
RA patients revealed high grade systemic inflammation compared to control group p<0.0001. Patients with high disease activity were more insulin resistant than patients with moderate disease activity P<0.0001.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study showed that early untreated RA patients are characterized by a severe insulin resistant state that is driven primarily by disease activity and systemic inflammation.
Internal Medicine Department, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Dina
D
Shahin
Ehab
E
Eltoraby
Abeer
A
Mesbah
Maha
M
Houssen
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein