title: Atherogenic lipid profile and high sensitive C-reactive protein in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the lipid profile and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and compare them with healthy controls, and also compare the different patterns of these parameters during active RA between male and female patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 60 RA patients and 65 controls matched by age and sex. All cases were selected from the Rheumatology Department of a tertiary care hospital, Delhi, India and fulfilled the 1987 American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for RA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that male RA patients had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP (p<0.001), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.001), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C (p<0.05), and lower level of HDL-C (p<0.01), than male controls. The mean levels of HDL-C and TC were high (p<0.05), and LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C (p<0.01), and hs-CRP (p<0.001) were low in healthy females as compared to female RA patients. Between RA patients, females had significantly high level of HDL-C (p<0.001), and low levels of TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C (p<0.001) as compared to RA males. Mean levels of TC and HDL-C were higher in healthy females (p<0.05) and triglyceride (TG) was lower (p<0.05) than in healthy males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate that the RA patients have high levels of inflammatory marker hs-CRP and altered lipid profile, and these are affected by the gender of the RA patients. Lipid levels should be monitored and managed in patients with RA to minimize the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Biochemist, Department of Pathology, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi 110007, India.
authors.forename: Harsh Vardhan
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences & Research, Faridabad 121001, India. Electronic address: amitbc83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon 122001, India.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raizada
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, G. R. Medical College, Gwalior 474009, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeev Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College and Hospital, Visnagar 384315, India.
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, G. R. Medical College, Gwalior 474009, India.
authors.forename: Neelima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon 122001, India.
authors.forename: Devendra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi 110007, India.
authors.forename: Hemant
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Atherogenic lipid profile; High sensitive C-reactive protein; Inflammation; Rheumatoid arthritis