Serum and synovial adiponectin, resistin, and visfatin levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Recent data provided evidence on the implication of the adipocytokines adiponectin, visfatin, and resistin in inflammation, immune response, and tissue destruction and revealed several links between them and arthritis. The purpose of this study was to assess the levels of adiponectin, visfatin, and resistin in serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their relationship with disease activity. A total of 70 female patients with RA and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. The clinical activity of RA patients was assessed according to the 28 joint count Disease Activity Score and patients were classified into two groups: 39 patients with active disease (group A) and 31 patients in remission (group B). Synovial fluid was obtained by arthrocentesis of the affected knee joints from 39 patients with active disease. Serum adiponectin, visfatin, and resistin concentrations were measured in RA patients and controls, while a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the synovial concentrations of adiponectin, visfatin, and resistin in the group of patients with active RA. Serum levels of adiponectin and visfatin were significantly higher in all RA patients and patients with active disease compared to the control group and patients in remission. No significant difference was observed in the resistin level between patients and controls. Serum and synovial adiponectin and visfatin were positively correlated with DAS28-ESR in RA patients with active disease. Our data demonstrated that adiponectin and visfatin are related to disease activity in RA patients and might be involved in the progression of RA. The English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink (under Supplemental).