The relationship between anthropometric status and rheumatoid arthritis. Exploring the role of nesfatin and asymmetric dimethylarginine

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the anthropometric status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, as well as two controversial adipokines, namely nesfatin-1 and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), to reveal the possible relationships between them and RA. Methods: This study included RA patients who fulfilled the American college of rheumatology classification criteria. Anthropometric parameters including height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Disease activity was assessed by 28 joints disease activity score (DAS28). Fasting plasma samples were collected and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), nesfatin-1 and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were determined using commercial kits. Statistical analyses were done using the BMI SPSS Statistics. Results: A total of 77 patients including 63 females, with an average age of 48.45±11.26 and disease duration of 9.99±5.80 years participated the study, 62% of whom were overweight or obese. Disease activity was significantly higher in obese patients. In addition, BMI and WC were correlated with CRP and ESR, indicating higher level of inflammation in obese patients. DAS28 was also found to be correlated with CRP, ESR and ADMA (r=0.38, 0.61, 0.21 respectively). Higher protein intake was accompanied with higher CRP and ESR and higher carbohydrate intake was related to higher CRP and lower nesfatin-1. Conclusions: Weight, BMI, and WC were correlated with the activity of RA and the concentrations of CRP and ESR went up in tandem with BMI. In addition, ADMA, but not nesfatin-1, was associated with BMI and disease activity in RA patients.