THE EFFECT OF INFLIXIMAB TREATMENT ON INSULIN RESISTANCE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

• Published in: Acta clinica belgica (English ed. Online) 2007-08, Vol.62 (4), p.218-222
• Main Authors: Oguz, F.M., Oguz, A., Uzunlulu, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antirheumatic Agents - pharmacology; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - metabolism; Female; Humans; Infliximab; Insulin Resistance; Male; Middle Aged; rheumatoid arthritis; tumour necrosis factor-alpha
• ISSN: 1784-3286; 2295-3337
• DOI: 10.1179/acb.2007.035

Aim: It is well known that increased insulin resistance is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and that tumour necrosis factor- alpha plays an important role in this process. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal anti- tumour necrosis factoralpha antibody. This study investigates the effects of long term infliximab treatment on insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and Methods: Seven rheumatoid arthritis patients (6 female and 1 male; mean age: 44.6±12.3, mean duration of disease: 6.8 y) for whom infliximab treatment had been planned at the rheumatology and internal medicine clinics were included. Patients were evaluated during and at the end of the study with a mean follow-up duration of 9.6 months. Fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin levels and serum lipid profile were assessed at baseline and throughout the treatment period (prior to every infusion). Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance model was used for the assessment of insulin sensitivity. Results: Fasting insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance levels decreased after treatment (from 19.4±7.7 μU/ml to 8.9±4.1 μU/ml and from 2.4±1 to 1.1±0.5, respectively; p