LIPID PROFILE ALTERATION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: It has been proved that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is linked to dyslipidemia and the risk of cardiovascular complications is higher in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate dyslipidemia in RApatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, RA patients were enrolled regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their demographic information and medication proles were evaluated. Clinical assessments were performed by evaluation of disease activity score (DAS28) and visual analogue scale. Moreover, laboratory investigations of lipid prole including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (Chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high- density lipoprotein (HDL) were performed. RESULT:Total of 150 patients with the mean age of 53.8±15.7 years, 64.4% were diagnosed with dyslipidemia. Females in menopausal ages had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia as well as patients with longer disease duration. Considering DAS28, 100% of the patients with high disease activity were diagnosed with dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION:According to the results, patients under treatment with prednisolone and methotrexate were more affected by dyslipidemia than those with prednisolone, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine. In the patients under prednisolone, methotrexate, and leunomide treatment, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was signicantly lower than those used only prednisolone and methotrexate. Altogether, it is necessary to have more clinical suspicion towards dyslipidemia and its complications in the patients with a greater number of affecting factors.