Summary:Rheumatic diseases in general lead to disturbances of metabolism, including lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. This is especially important since abnormal serum lipid concentrations have been shown to be related with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Altered levels of total lipids, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VDL) as well as apolipoproteins have been previously described in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The purpose of our study was to evaluate lipid and lipoprotein levels in rheumatoid arthritis and to investigate whether abnormal lipid and lipoprotein profile might be risk factors for coronary heart disease.
This study was undertaken to analyze serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (14 male, 58 female) and in control group consisted of 57 healthy volunteers. Total cholesterol (p<0.001), triglycerides (p<0.001), very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL-chol) (p<0.001) and apolipoprotein-B (p<0.05) were significantly different in the patient groupwhen compared to healthy controls, but high-density lipoproteins (HDL-chol) was not different (p>0.05).

İn conclusion, our study does not support the evidence that the lipid and lipoprotein metabolism might be an important risk factor for coronary heart disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Key words: Lipid profile, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiac mortality.

Summary:Rheumatic diseases in general lead to disturbances of metabolism, including lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. This is especially important since abnormal serum lipid concentrations have been shown to be related with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Altered levels of total lipids, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VDL) as well as apolipoproteins have been previously described in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The purpose of our study was to evaluate lipid and lipoprotein levels in rheumatoid arthritis and to investigate whether abnormal lipid and lipoprotein profile might be risk factors for coronary heart disease.
This study was undertaken to analyze serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (14 male, 58 female) and in control group consisted of 57 healthy volunteers. Total cholesterol (p<0.001), triglycerides (p<0.001), very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL-chol) (p<0.001) and apolipoprotein-B (p<0.05) were significantly different in the patient groupwhen compared to healthy controls, but high-density lipoproteins (HDL-chol) was not different (p>0.05).

İn conclusion, our study does not support the evidence that the lipid and lipoprotein metabolism might be an important risk factor for coronary heart disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Key words: Lipid profile, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiac mortality.