Lack of effect of TNFalpha blockade therapy on circulating adiponectin levels in patients with autoimmune disease: results from two independent prospective studies

Abstract

Background: Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory and potentially antiatherogenic molecule. Some recent reports suggest that tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) blockade therapy increases circulating adiponectin levels, but data are sparse and inconsistent.

Methods: Data from a double-blind placebo controlled study of onercept in 126 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and from pre- and post-adalimumab treatment in 171 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were used to examine the effect of TNFalpha blockade therapy on adiponectin.

Results: Despite expected associations of adiponectin with gender and baseline high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride, adiponectin levels did not change over time with TNFalpha blockade therapy in either group. The mean+/-SD absolute change in adiponectin levels was -0.23+/-4.6 microg/ml in patients with PsA treated with combined onercept 50 mg and onercept 100 mg (vs placebo, p=0.60) and 0.28+/-3.23 microg/ml in patients with RA treated with adalimumab (vs baseline, p=0.66).

Conclusion: These results do not support a significant effect of TNFalpha blockade therapy on circulating adiponectin levels in patients with autoimmune disease.