EFFECT OF DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS ON THE VALUES OF APOLIPOPROTEIN A-1 AND ACUTE PHASE REACTANTS IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.

Abstract

In this observational study we examined the impact of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) on the disease activity as well as the values of acute phase reactants and the apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Eighty patients with active RA and newly discovered RA patients who meet the American Rheumatology Association (ARA) 1987 revised criteria were treated with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs – DMARDs according to the standard protocol of everyday clinical practice. At 6 and 12 months of treatment the patients achieved a signifi cant decrease in the disease activity score 28 (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values. On the other hand, the levels of Apo A-1, which were low at baseline, were signifi - cantly higher. In conclusion, the use of DMARDs in patients with RA reduced disease activity and infl ammation, but also had a benefi cial eff ect in increasing the levels of atheroprotective Apo A-1 lipoprotein, which can reduce CV risks in these patients.