Anti-TNF therapy ups antioxidant effect of HDL cholesterol
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a small study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, treatment with the anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent infliximab appeared to increase the antioxidative capacity of HDL cholesterol.
This finding may help explain prior reports suggesting a cardioprotective effect for anti-TNF therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients, Dr. C. Popa, from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands, and colleagues conclude.
As reported in the June issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers measured plasma lipids and paraoxonase activity in 45 rheumatoid arthritis patients before, during, and after 6 months of infliximab therapy. The team also examined the ability of HDL cholesterol to block copper-induced oxidation of LDL cholesterol in vitro.
Although plasma HDL cholesterol levels did not change during the study period, paraoxonase activity increased significantly, the report indicates (p < 0.03). Moreover, at 6 months, a significant improvement in HDL total antioxidative capacity was noted (p = 0.015).
The increase in paraoxonase was concurrent to the decline in inflammatory status, the authors note. The improvement in HDL antioxidative capacity at 6 months, by contrast, appeared to be a specific effect of TNF blockade.
"Our results underline the importance of evaluating HDL antioxidative properties in addition to HDL concentrations, especially in those populations in which the predictive value of traditional cardiovascular risk factors is limited," Dr. Popa's team concludes.
Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:868-872.
What a find this is! This would sure be a positive given the cardio risk to RA folks! Thanks Lynn, you know I always look at the cardio stuff carefully! I have my cardiac check up on Monday! Finally, possible answers on why cardiac issues dropped when patient's were in clinical remission or close to. For me this is pretty exciting news. I'm still off all RA meds and have really been debating if I should go back on them. I feel pretty good, have some inflammation but not showing yet in labs. This and further studies may prompt me to restart MXT, Sulfa, Humira. LindyWaddie, am really glad that you're going for a cardiac check. I've been preaching for awhile about having yearly cardiac checkups and their importance and why they need to be done. Let us know. LindyVery interesting, thanks Lindy.Bumping, there is some conversations about early, aggressive treatment plans and this seems to be a highly complementary article. So nice to hear some good news - a positive side effect! Yay!Finally, a good side effect! yippee