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Table 2 Lipid profile, disease activity, dyslipidaemia risk factors, and vascular measurements across the three visits for patients starting anti-TNFα therapy.

From: Anti-TNFα therapy transiently improves high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and microvascular endothelial function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a Pilot Study

 

Baseline

2 weeks

3 months

P-value

Lipid Profile

 TC (mmol/l)

4.7 ± 1.0

4.9 ± 1.1

4.8 ± 0.9

0.170

 HDL cholesterol (mmol/l)

1.4 ± 0.3

1.5 ± 0.3

1.4 ± 0.3

0.014

 TG (mmol/l)

1.4 ± 0.6

1.5 ± 0.7

1.6 ± 0.9

0.236

Disease Activity

 CRP (mg/l)

10 (4 to 14)

3 (2.9 to 6)

5 (2.9 to 10)

<0.001

 ESR (mmhr)

16 (9–34)

10 (5–21)

17 (5–27)

0.003

 Fibrinogen (g/l)

5.1 ± 1.0

4.2 ± .75

4.3 ± .91

<0.001

 DAS 28

4.22 ± 0.94

2.71 ± 1.38

2.80 ± 1.30

<0.001

 HAQ

2.1 ± 0.5

1.3 ± 0.9

1.3 ± 0.9

<0.001

 TNFα cytokine (pg/ml)*

3.27 (0–65)

16.2 (0–73)

33.1 (0–68)

0.452

Dyslipidaemia Risk Factors

 BMI (kg/m2)

30.2 ± 6.1

30.3 ± 6.1

30.3 ± 6.2

0.747

 IPAQ (met min/wk)

2850 ± 5451

2914 ± 3551

2503 ± 3163

0.625

Vascular Measurements

Microvascular endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent function

 ACh (%)

319 ± 217

437 ± 247

348 ± 209

0.017

 SNP (%)

252 ± 126

288 ± 150

261 ± 152

0.314

Macrovascular endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent function

 FMD (%)

9.4 ± 6.9

12.0 ± 9.6

12.0 ± 8.1

0.214

 GTN (%)

22.6 ± 7.5

23.2 ± 7.0

23.8 ± 7.2

0.737

  1. Results expressed as mean ± SD or median (interquartile range) as appropriate.
  2. TC: total cholesterol, HDL: high density lipoprotein, TG: triglycerides, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, DAS28: disease activity score, HAQ: health assessment questionnaire, TNFα: tumor necrosis factor alpha, BMI: body mass index, IPAQ: international physical activity questionnaire, ACh: acetylcholine-mediated dilatation, SNP: sodium nitroprusside-mediated dilatation, FMD: flow-mediated-dilatation, GTN: glyceryl trinitrate-mediated dilatation. p < 0.05 when compared to baseline visit. *Data for 21 patients only.