High prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis: A new comorbidity related to dyslipidemia?

• Published in: Reumatología clinica 2019-03, Vol.15 (2), p.84-89
• Main Authors: García-Gómez, María Carmen, de Lama, Eugenia, Ordoñez-Palau, Sergi, Nolla, Joan Miquel, Corbella, Emili, Pintó, Xavier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artritis reumatoide; Cholecystectomy; Colecistectomía; Comorbidity; Comorbilidad; Gallstones; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteínas; Litiasis biliar; Lípidos; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology
• ISSN: 1699-258X; 2173-5743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reuma.2017.06.013

Abstract Objective To assess the prevalence of gallstone disease and identify associated risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population. Methods Eighty-four women with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed via a structured interview, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and blood test including lipid profile. The prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis was compared with data from a study of the Spanish population matched by age groups. Results Twenty-eight of the 84 women had gallstone disease (33.3%). RA women with and without gallstone disease were similar in most of the variables assessed, except for older age and menopausal status in the former. A greater prevalence of gallstone disease was seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the general population of the same age; however, the differences were significant only in women aged 60 or older (45.5% versus 23.1% respectively, P -value .008). The age-adjusted OR of developing gallstone disease in RA women compared with general population women was 2,3 (95% CI: 1.3–4.1). A significantly higher HDL3-c subfraction and higher apoA-I/HDL and HDL3-c/TC ratios were observed in patients with gallstone disease. Conclusion Women with rheumatoid arthritis may have a predisposition to gallstones that can manifest in middle or older age compared with women in the general population. This situation could be related to chronic inflammation and HDL metabolism.