EFFECT OF METHOTREXATE ON THE VALUES OF RHEUMATOID FACTOR AND LIPOPROTEIN (A) AND CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THEIR VALUES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Hysni Ismaili, Levent Ismaili, Meral Rexhepi, Qahil Ibraimi, Nevzat Elezi

Abstract

Objective: To examine the disease activity score, the values of Rheumatoid factor and Lipoprotein (a) in patients with active and untreated Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) before and after treatment with Methotrexate (MTX). Material and methods: 50 patients with active and untreated RA were treated with MTX therapy. The age of patients varied from 32 to 59 years old. The average age was 45.7 years old and the average disease duration was 6.2 years. The diagnosis was determined according to ARA (American Rheumatology Association) criteria of 1988. Before the treatment, all patients had done clinical and laboratory examinations. Drugs were prescribed according to the protocol for treatment, while Rheumatoid factor (RF) and Lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) values were recorded at the beginning of the study, the 6-month mark and at the end of study, respectively end of month 12. Results: At DAS28 score after 6 month(p<0.01) there are significant differences in relation beginning, 6 and 12 month. The difference is also significant (p<0.001) in the relation beginning/12 month after treatment with MTX therapy. Changes in RF and Lp(a) levels between the start of the study, at 6 months and again in one year after the start of the study were with significant differences. There were noted very weak negative and non significant correlations between the values of RF and Lp(a) at the beginning, 6 and 12 month after treatment with MTX. Conclusion: Use of Methotrexat therapy at patients with active and untreated RA had reduced effect on disease activity and inflammation but also had beneficial effect lowering the values of RF and Lp(a) which contribute for lower risk for Cardio vascular disease (CVD) at RA patients.

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