Serum leptin levels in patients with active and non-active rheumatoid arthritis and their significance

Objective To study the changing rules of serum leptin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）. Methods Activity of RA was assayed according to the 28-joint count disease activity score（DAS28）.Serum levels of leptin,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,RF,CRP,ESR and anti-CCP were measured in 40 healthy controls and 96 patients including 47 patients with active RA and 49 patients with non-active RA.Correlation between leptin and TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,RF,CRP,ESR and anti-CCP was analyzed. Results The serum levels of leptin,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,RF,CRP,ESR and anti-CCP were significantly higher in patients with active RA than in healthy controls（P＜0.01） and the serum level of leptin was significantly higher in women than in men（P＜0.05）.No significant difference was observed in serum levels of leptin,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,RF,CRP,ESR and anti-CCP between patients with nonactive RA and healthy controls.The serum level of leptin was significantly related with those of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,RF,CRP,ESR and anti-CCP in patients with active RA（P＜0.05）. Conclusion Serum leptin level in RA patients is closely related the activity of RA,and leptin can act as a cofactor in promoting the progression of RA.