[Effects of hydroxychloroquine on insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity (IS), which has been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of early atherosclerosis. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may have beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid profile.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of HCQ on IS and lipid profile in patients with RA.


METHODS
An open clinical trial was performed in 15 patients aged between 35 and 56 years. During three months, patients received 400 mg/day of HCQ orally. Before and after the pharmacological intervention, demographic and anthropometric variables, serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, insulin and uric acid were measured. IS was estimated as the rate of glucose clearance per minute obtained with the insulin tolerance test (KITT).


RESULTS
Baseline and final KITT values were 4.3 ± 1.2 and 4.80 ± 1.1%/min, respectively (p = 0.03). Significant reductions in serum TC (p = 0.04) and TG (p = 0.01) were also observed. No other significant differences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral administration of 400 mg/day of HCQ during three months in RA patients is associated with an improvement in IS, TC and TG.
Rodolfo
R
Araiza-Casillas
Raúl
R
Díaz-Molina
Manuel
M
González-Ortiz
Octavio Manuel
OM
Robinson-Navarro
D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D002784:Cholesterol