Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013;15(6):R194.
doi: 10.1186/ar4384.

Adipokines, inflammation, insulin resistance, and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Yoon Kang, Hee-Jin Park, Mi-I Kang, Hyang-Sun Lee, Sang-Won Lee, Soo-Kon Lee, Yong-Beom Park

Adipokines, inflammation, insulin resistance, and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Yoon Kang et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013.

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Inflammation is thought to be an important factor in accelerated atherosclerosis in RA, whereas insulin resistance is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis in RA. We hypothesised that adipokines could be a link between inflammation, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis in RA.

Methods: The common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT), CCA resistive index (RI), and carotid plaques were measured by ultrasonography in 192 patients with RA. Insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were determined.

Results: The CCA RI was associated with CCA IMT and the estimated total plaque volume after adjustment for conventional CV risk factors. Among adipokines, resistin and IL-6 were correlated with inflammatory parameters. Leptin and leptin:adiponectin (L:A) ratio were correlated with metabolic risk factors, including HOMA-IR. And L:A ratio was related to the CCA RI after adjustment for conventional and nonconventional CV risk factors, including HOMA-IR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.

Conclusion: L:A ratio was associated with HOMA-IR and carotid RI. L:A ratio might be an independent factor for predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with RA.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Correlation of the leptin:adiponectin ratio and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance. Log leptin:adiponectin ratio (L:A ratio) showed highly significant correlation with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.338; P <0.001), and the correlation remained significant after adjusting conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Mutru O, Laakso M, Isomaki H, Koota K. Cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Cardiology. 1989;15:71–77. doi: 10.1159/000174474. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Del Rincon ID, Williams K, Stern MP, Freeman GL, Escalante A. High incidence of cardiovascular events in a rheumatoid arthritis cohort not explained by traditional cardiac risk factors. Arthritis Rheum. 2001;15:2737–2745. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200112)44:12<2737::AID-ART460>3.0.CO;2-#. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Solomon DH, Karlson EW, Rimm EB, Cannuscio CC, Mandl LA, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Curhan GC. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Circulation. 2003;15:1303–1307. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000054612.26458.B2. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dessein PH, Joffe BI, Veller MG, Stevens BA, Tobias M, Reddi K, Stanwix AE. Traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors are associated with atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2005;15:435–442. - PubMed
    1. Bartoloni E, Alunno A, Bistoni O, Gerli R. How early is the atherosclerotic risk in rheumatoid arthritis? Autoimmun Rev. 2010;15:701–707. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2010.06.001. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types