title: Correlation between insulin resistance and serum ghrelin in non-diabetic ankylosing spondylitis patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether anti-TNF-α therapy (infliximab) administration alters circulating levels of ghrelin, an anti-inflammatory gastric peptide. We also assessed possible associations of circulating ghrelin concentrations with CRP and ESR levels, metabolic syndrome, demographic characteristics and other adipokines in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 30 consecutive non-diabetic AS patients, without history of cardiovascular (CV) events, on periodical treatment with infliximab. Serum ghrelin levels were determined immediately prior to and after an infliximab infusion. Correlations of ghrelin serum levels with disease activity, systemic inflammation and metabolic syndrome were assessed. Potential changes in ghrelin concentration following an infusion of infliximab were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a negative correlation between ghrelin concentration and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR immediately before infliximab infusion- at time 0 and at the end of infliximab infusion- at time 120') (r=-0.496; p=0.01 at time 0; r=-0.393; p=0.047 at time 120', respectively). We also found a positive correlation with insulin sensitivity (QUICKI) (r=0.415; p=0.035 at time 0; r=0.465; p=0.017 at time 120'). A correlation was found between ghrelin and resistin prior to infliximab infusion (r=0.429; p=0.046), and a negative correlation between serum ghrelin levels at time 0 and triglycerides (r=-0.416; p=0.035). No differences in ghrelin levels according to specific clinical features of the disease were seen. A single infliximab infusion led to mild but not significant increase in ghrelin serum concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In AS patients undergoing periodical treatment with anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody-infliximab a link between insulin resistance and serum ghrelin concentration was observed.
authors: Epidemiology, Genetics and Atherosclerosis Research Group on Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, Rheumatology Division, IFIMAV, Santander, Spain. fernandagenre@gmail.com.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Genre
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: López-Mejías
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Miranda-Filloy
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Carnero-López
authors: Inés
authors: I
authors: Gómez-Acebo
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Blanco
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Ochoa
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Rueda
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: González-Juanatey
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Llorca
authors: Miguel Á
authors: MÁ
authors: González-Gay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; C515349:GHRL protein, human; D054439:Ghrelin; C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069285:Infliximab