Lipid Profile in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients on Anti-TNFα Therapy

Previous studies analyzing lipid profile in small cohorts of patients with rheumatic and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) treated with TNFα blockers showed conflicting results. We aim to evaluate the effect of anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies, infliximab and adalimumab, on lipid profile in IBD patients followed up to 3 years.

Clinical charts of 128 consecutive IBD patients, who received at least three doses of infliximab or two doses of adalimumab, and with a clinical follow-up of at least 1 year, were retrospectively reviewed. Lipid profiles (total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) before beginning the treatment and after 1 and 3 years of follow-up were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed considering total cholesterol difference at basal time, 1 and 3 years as a dependent variable.

There was not a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-treatment lipid profiles. However, the subgroup with normal-range total cholesterol level before anti-TNFα treatment (n = 82) showed a significant increase in total cholesterol after 1 and 3 years, and a significant increase in LDL cholesterol after 3 years. The subgroup with basal normal-range triglycerides showed a significant increase after 1 and 3 years of follow-up. Atherogenic index resulted significantly increased after 3 years of anti-TNFα treatment. Multivariate analysis showed no influence of age, gender, type of IBD, body mass index, or the presence of two or more cardiovascular risk factors.

No significant changes in lipid profile of IBD patients on anti-TNFα therapy were observed after 1 and 3 years of treatment.