The aim of the current study was to explore the changes in lipid and NT-proBNP levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients through different phases of the disease: from the pre-clinical stage and RA onset up to the treatment phase with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDS).

Thirty-eight consecutive patients, initially with arthralgia and rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibodies without arthritis, who later developed RA and eventually started treatment with bDMARDs, were included. Lipid spectrum and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were measured longitudinally from several months before diagnosis through treatment with bDMARDs.

From baseline, C-reactive protein (CPR) initially increased sharply, decreasing with the start of biological treatment. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) remained stable, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) increased, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1 and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-c ratio and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) decreased during follow-up. NT-proBNP closely followed progression of CRP. TC, LDL-c, TC/HDL-c ratio, ApoA and ApoB inverse correlated with CRP, while Lp(a) positively correlated. HDL-c and triglycerides showed no correlation.

Changes in the lipid profile and NT-proBNP in RA patients seem to be related to inflammation, with changes reflecting an increase in CVD risk occurring along with rises in CRP levels. These changes seem to already be present at diagnosis, indicating the need for timely control of inflammation.