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Association between leptin and IL-6 concentrations with cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

José Antonio De Jesús Batún-Garrido1, Marisol Salas-Magaña2, Isela Esther Juárez-Rojop2

  • 1Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Tabasco, Mexico. antonio_bg1986@hotmail.com.

Clinical Rheumatology
|November 5, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Elevated leptin and IL-6 levels are linked to higher cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients. These inflammatory markers correlate with disease activity and traditional risk factors, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines like leptin and IL-6 are implicated in cardiovascular risk development.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients exhibit increased cardiovascular risk compared to the general population.
  • Understanding the role of specific cytokines in RA-associated cardiovascular risk is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between serum leptin and IL-6 concentrations and cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • To identify associations between these cytokines and traditional/non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors in RA.

Main Methods:

  • Serum leptin and IL-6 levels were measured in 77 RA patients.
  • Cardiovascular risk was assessed using the modified Framingham scale.
  • Statistical analyses (SPSS 22) were employed to determine significant correlations (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

  • Higher leptin levels correlated with disease activity, obesity, rheumatoid factor positivity, tobacco use, and metabolic syndrome.
  • Lower leptin levels were associated with hydroxychloroquine consumption.
  • Elevated IL-6 levels were linked to disease activity, hypertriglyceridemia, LDL-C, and smoking.
  • Hydroxychloroquine consumption showed an association with lower IL-6 concentrations.
  • The highest cardiovascular risk scores were observed in patients with elevated leptin and IL-6 levels.
  • A positive association was found between cardiovascular risk and serum leptin concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • Serum leptin and IL-6 concentrations are positively associated with cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
  • These cytokines are significantly linked to both traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors in this population.
  • Targeting leptin and IL-6 may offer a strategy to mitigate cardiovascular risk in RA.

Keywords:
Cardiovascular riskLeptinMetabolic syndromeRheumatoid arthritis

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