DYNAMIC TRAINING AND CIRCULATING NEUROPEPTIDES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of a dynamic physical train ing programme on circulating levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) after high-intensity training for 6 weeks (60 min twice a week) and after l ow-intensity training (home-training) for another 6 months in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in healthy subjects. Additionally, differences in neuropeptide levels between the two groups were studie d. A total of 30 patients with RA were randomly allocated to the study , 15 in the training group (TG) and 15 in the control group (CG). In a ddition, 20 healthy subjects (10 in TG; 10 in CG) participated. In add ition to the biochemical analyses, the following variables were assess ed for the RA group: pain and disability (Stanford health assessment q uestionnaire), joint tenderness (Ritchie articular index), disease act ivity, muscle function, aerobic capacity, sociodemographic data and at titudes. The results obtained at the start revealed significant differ ences (p < 0.05) between RA patients and healthy subjects concerning C RH levels, RA patients showing the lower levels (RA-group Md = 24 pmol /L, healthy group Md = 29 pmol/L). No significant differences concerni ng beta-LPH and beta-EP were found here. After the high-intensity trai ning period, a significant increase of the CRH levels were found for t he RA-TG (pretest Md = 24 pmol/L, after 6 weeks Md = 27 pmol/L, p < 0. 05). No such results were found for the healthy-TG or the control grou ps. Concerning beta-EP significant differences between the RA-TG and h ealthy-TG were found after the training. RA patients generally showing higher levels as compared with the healthy (RA-group Md = 42 pmol/L, healthy group Md = 36 pmol/L, p < 0.05). The same pattern was found fo r the beta-LPH levels. In conclusion, the effects of physical training on circulating neuropeptides remain still incompletely examined, and there is no definite answer to the question whether increased beta-EP levels are good or bad.