Differences between serum polar lipid profiles of male and female rheumatoid arthritis patients in response to glucocorticoid treatment.
OBJECTIVE
As there are pharmacological differences between males and females, and glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality rate in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, it is important to study serum polar lipid profiles of male and female patients in response to GC therapy. Gender differences may require an adjustment to the treatment strategy for a selection of patients.


METHODS
Serum samples from 281 RA patients were analysed using a targeted lipidomics platform. The differences in GC use and gender on polar lipid profiles were cross sectionally examined by multiple linear regressions, while correcting for confounding factors.


RESULTS
Differences in polar lipids between GC users and non-GC users in females and males were merely restricted to lysophospholipids (lysophosphatidylcholines and lysophosphatidylethanolamines). Lysophospholipids in female patients treated with GCs were significantly higher than female patients not treated with GCs (p = 6.0 E-6), whereas no significant difference was observed in male GC users versus non-users (p = 0.397).


CONCLUSIONS
The lysophospholipid profiles in response to GCs were significantly different between male and female RA patients, which may have implications for the cardiovascular risk of GC treatment.
Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands. j.fu@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.|Sino-Dutch Center for Preventive and Personalized Medicine, P.O. Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, The Netherlands. j.fu@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.
Junzeng
J
Fu
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, F02.127, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Bart V J
BV
Cuppen
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, F02.127, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Paco M J
PM
Welsing
Sino-Dutch Center for Preventive and Personalized Medicine, P.O. Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, The Netherlands.
Herman
H
van Wietmarschen
Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Netherlands Metabolomics Center, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Amy C
AC
Harms
Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Netherlands Metabolomics Center, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Ruud
R
Berger
Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Netherlands Metabolomics Center, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Slavik
S
Koval
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, F02.127, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|1st Medical Department and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Centre Meidling, Hanusch Hospital, Heinrich-Collin-Straße 30, 1140, Vienna, Austria.|Sigmund Freud University, Freudplatz 1, 1020, Vienna, Austria.
Ruth D E
RD
Fritsch-Stork
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, F02.127, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Johannes W J
JW
Bijlsma
Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Netherlands Metabolomics Center, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Thomas
T
Hankemeier
Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Sino-Dutch Center for Preventive and Personalized Medicine, P.O. Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, The Netherlands.|TNO, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, Microbiology and Systems Biology, Zeist, The Netherlands.|Netherlands Metabolomics Center, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Jan
J
van der Greef
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, F02.127, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Floris P J G
FP
Lafeber
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008246:Lysophospholipids
Gender difference; Glucocorticoid; Lysophospholipid; Rheumatoid arthritis
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