[Adipocytokines in rheumatoid arthritis and obesity]

[The influence of intravenous laser irradiation of the blood on the dynamics of leptin levels and the quality of life of the patients presenting with rheumatoid arthritis]

AIM

The objective of the present study was to estimate the influence of intravenous laser irradiation of the blood on the dynamics of leptin levels and the quality of life of the patients presenting with rheumatoid arthritis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 132 patients at the age varying from 18 to 65 (mean 52.9 ± 11.3) years presenting with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were available for the examination. The diagnosis of RA was based on the results of clinical, laboratory, and instrumental studies in accordance with the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) dated 2010. The patients were divided into two groups. The control group was comprised of the patients who received the traditional medicamental treatment alone (n = 30) while the study group consisted of the patients given a course of intravenous laser irradiation of the blood in addition to the traditional medicamental treatment (n = 102).The course of intravenous laser therapy was performed with the use of a Matrix-VLOK apparatus ("Matrix", Russia) by means of the VLOK + UBI procedure. Each course consisted of 10 sessions per patient without a break for the weekend.

RESULTS

The data obtained indicate that the patients with rheumatoid arthritis had the increased plasma leptin level suggesting the development of the inflammatory process. Moreover, the quality of the patients' life was deteriorated.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate that the combined treatment by means of low-intensity laser irradiation is accompanied by the normalization of the plasma leptin level, suppression of the inflammatory process, and a significant improvement of the quality of life of the patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Body composition and serum levels of adiponectin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and interleukin-6 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Aim

To investigate differences in body composition and body mass index (BMI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their correlations with serum production of adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Methods

The study included 83 patients (age 53 ± 5 years) with RA treated with methotrexate. We determined their BMI, fat mass, and fat-free mass using bioimpedance analysis, and serum concentrations of adiponectin, VEGF, and IL-6 using immunoassay analysis.

Results

Normal BMI was found in 39 (47%), overweight and obesity in 26 (31%), and underweight in 18 (22%) patients. Concentration of adiponectin was lower in overweight/obese patients than in patients with normal BMI (2.1 [0.8-3.9] μg/mL vs 8.9 (7.2-11.3) μg/mL). In underweight patients, it was moderately increased (12.7 [9.3-14.8] μg/mL) and the correlation between the concentrations of adiponectin and IL-6 was positive (r = 0.4; P = 0.01). Concentrations of VEGF and IL-6 were increased in all groups with RA. The overweight/obese group showed a negative correlation between the concentrations of adiponectin and VEGF (r = - 0.34; P = 0.04), a positive correlation between VEGF concentration and fat mass (r = 0.39; P = 0.02), and a negative correlation between adiponectin concentration and fat mass (r = - 0.23; P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Inflammatory and angiogenesis activation was found in RA patients with all types of body composition, but only in those with obesity and overweight there was a direct antagonism between adiponectin and VEGF. Further research is needed to identify possible regimens of metabolic correction in different variations of body composition.