Lipoprotein(a) and lipids in relation to inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) acts as the acute phase reactant and whether changes of lipids are related to infl ammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Lp(a) and Lipids were measured after an overnight fast, before and after 14 days use of antiinflammatory agents and correlated with laboratory findings in 21 untreated RA patients and 19 healthy controls. Nine (42.3%) of 21 RA patients and 6 (31.6%) of 19 contr ols had high Lp(a) levels (> 30 mg/dl) and the Lp(a) level was higher in RA patients compared with controls (27.1 +/- 5.3 vs 19.0 +/- 4.2 mg/dl) witho ut significant difference (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between ESR and Lp(a) and Lipids in RA patients except for HDL cholesterol (r = -0.563, p = 0.008). After antiinflammatory agent use for 14 days, chan ge in ESR (ESRsamplel-ESRsample2) was significantly and negatively correlat ed to changes in total and HDL cholesterols in RA patients. In conclusion a lthough Lp(a) tended to be higher in RA, we could not find a distinct acute phase pattern of Lp(a). But changes in total and HDL cholesterols were neg atively correlated with inflammation in RA. Our data support the phenomenon that dyslipoproteinemia observed in RA is associated with inflammation.