Obesity, Lipid Profile and Cytokines in Spondyloarthritis

CONTEXT: Chronic rheumatic diseases seem to be associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The link between cytokines and lipid profile in spondyloarthritis is not well elucidated. AIMS: We aimed to assess the relationship between cytokines and obesity, lipid profile and atherogenic indexes in spondyloarthritis. METHODS AND MATERIAL: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 45 patients with axial radiographic spondyloarthritis. For each patient, we measured the following pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL-) 1, IL-8, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa), and anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-10. We also measured total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc). We calculated the following ratios: TC/HDLc, TG/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc and Log[TG/HDLc]. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: SPSS. RESULTS: The mean age was 46 ± 11.9 years. IL-8 levels were increased in obese patients (P = 0.003). IL-8 and IL-22 levels were significantly higher in patients with abdominal obesity (P = 0.024 and P = 0.042, respectively). IL-6 levels were lower in patients with hypercholesterolemia (P = 0.009). IL-1 levels correlated to TG (r = 0.413; P = 0.005). IL-1 and IL-6 were correlated to TG/HDLc (IL-1: r = 0.484, P = 0.001; IL-6; r = 0.700, P = 0.012) and Log[TG/HDLc] (IL-1: r = 0.354; P = 0.012; IL-6: r = 0.309, P = 0.041). IL-10 level was correlated to TC/HDLc (r = 0.333, P = 0.027) and LDLc/HDLc (r = 0.342, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: IL-8 and IL-22 were higher in patients with abdominal obesity, highlighting the contribution of the adipocytes to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The correlation between cytokines and atherogenic indexes suggests the role of these cytokines in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in spondyloarthritis.