title: Influence of TNF-α inhibition on oxidative stress of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess circulating levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) as a marker of oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment. We enrolled 40 patients with RA (36 females; age 53 ± 13 yrs) treated with different subcutaneously administered TNF-α inhibitors. The oxidative status was determined on the basis of plasma samples taken before, at 24 and 52 weeks of the anti-TNF-α treatment. Hydroperoxide levels were measured using the d-ROMs test, a useful clinically proven oxidative stress marker. During the anti-TNF-α therapy, we observed a significant reduction in serum ROMs levels in RA patients from 33.2 ± 10 mg H2O2/L at baseline to 29.5 ± 7 and 29.3 ± 9 mg H2O2/L, at 24 and 52 weeks, respectively (p<0.05). We also identified a significant correlation between the oxidative stress status and the disease activity score on 28 joints/C-reactive protein and health assessment questionnaire disability index. The results of our study demonstrate that a good control of the disease with anti-TNF-α agents can reduce oxidative stress in RA patients. However, further studies of larger patient cohorts are needed to confirm these preliminary data.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit and Rheumatology Clinic, N. Melli Hospital, San Pietro Vernotico (BR). f.cacciapaglia@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciapaglia
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Anelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scioscia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iannone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lapadula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016877:Oxidants; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide