Insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVES

To assess insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to the clinical, inflammatory and biochemical characteristics of these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-six untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease duration less than 1 year along with age and sex matched controls were studied. Disease activity score (DAS28) was used to assess disease activity. Plasma levels of C- reactive protein (CRP), glucose, insulin and complete lipid profile were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

RESULTS

RA patients revealed high grade systemic inflammation compared to control group p<0.0001. Patients with high disease activity were more insulin resistant than patients with moderate disease activity P<0.0001.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study showed that early untreated RA patients are characterized by a severe insulin resistant state that is driven primarily by disease activity and systemic inflammation.