Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic relapsing immune-inflammatory multisystem disease with predominant synovial proliferation and destruction of articular cartilage. Patients with RA have a higher riskof mortality related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease with atherogenic lipid profile. In recent years, oxidative stress in RA patients has received considerable attention and has been implicated as mediators of tissue damage and cardio-vascular disease in patients with RA.

The aim of the present study was to assess the lipid profile and lipid peroxide products of patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy controls.

The study included 70 patients of rheumatoid arthritis who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were included in the study and were compared to 40 healthy volunteers subjects. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, liver or kidney disease, Cushing’s syndrome, obesity, familiar dyslipidemia and those receiving medications affecting lipid metabolism were excluded from the study. Blood samples of controls and patients were collected at the time of presentation and analyzed for lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) and triglycerides (TG); malondialdehyde (MDA-marker of oxidative stress) and Conjugated Diene (CD) of RA versus healthy subjects.

Patients exhibited higher serum levels of TC, LDL-C and TG, whereas their serum HDLC levels were significantly lower compared to controls. As a consequence, the atherogenic ratio of TC/HDL-C (3,67±0,83 vs 4,51±1,12; p<0,001) as well as that of TG/HDL-C (0,71±0,19 vs 2,00±0,37; p<0,001), was significantly higher in RA patients compared to controls. The plasma MDA levels (0,57±0,37 vs 0,8±0,20; p<0,001), the erythrocyte MDA levels(14,78±2,7 vs 22,54±4,25; p<0.001), as well as the plasma CD (121,65±36,75 vs 141,85±50,8; p<0,05) and the erythrocyte CD (142,23±54,74 vs 224,64±73,21, p<0,001) were higher in the patient group than in the control group.

According to our results, patients with RA exhibited an atherogenic lipid profile with increased levels of oxidative stress markers. This situation accelerates vascular risk in RA. The results suggest the necessity for therapeutic co-administration of antioxidants along with conventional drugs to such patients. However, due to the limited number of cases included in this study, more studies may be required.