Association of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity and antibodies to periodontal bacteria with serum lipoprotein profile in drug naive patients

Objective: We investigated lipid concentrations, particle sizes and antibodies binding to periodontal bacteria Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis and to malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) modified low-density lipoprotein in immunoglobulin (Ig) class A, G and M among patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a population-based cohort. Methods: Concentrations and sizes of lipoprotein particles analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and antibody levels to MAA modified low-density lipoprotein were studied at baseline and after one-year of follow-up. Serum Ig A and G class antibodies to periodontal bacteria were determined at baseline. Results: Sixty-three patients were divided into tertiles according to disease activity by disease activity score with 28 joint count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (<3.9, 3.9-4.7, >4.7). Small low-density lipoprotein concentration was lowest in the tertile with the highest disease activity. In high-density lipoprotein, the concentrations of total, medium and small particles decreased with disease activity. The particle size in low-density lipoprotein associated with disease activity and the presence of antibodies to P. gingivalis. Ig G and M antibodies to MAA modified low-density lipoprotein correlated with disease activity. Inflammation associated changes faded by one year. Conclusions: Drug naive RA patients had proatherogenic changes in lipid profiles, but they were reversible, when inflammation diminished.Key messages Patients with drug naive rheumatoid arthritis showed proatherogenic lipid profiles. Reversible changes in lipid profiles can be achieved as response to inflammation suppression. Active therapy aimed at remission is essential in all patients with rheumatoid arthritis.