Visfatin is not associated with inflammation or metabolic syndrome in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy

Background and Objective Visfatin is an insulin-mimetic adipokine. In non-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients circulating levels of visfatin are correlated with the amount of visceral fat. Recent studies have disclosed an implication of visfatin in inflammation. Chronic systemic inflammation is of major importance in the development of atherosclerosis in RA. In the present study we investigated whether inflammation, obesity or metabolic syndrome are potential determinants of circulating visitant concentrations in a group of RA patients on periodical treatment with the TNF-alpha blocker infliximab due to severe disease. We also assessed whether the infusion of infliximab may alter circulating visfatin concentrations in patients with severe RA. Methods We investigated 33 non-diabetic patients with RA on periodical treatment with infliximab. Serum visfatin levels were determined immediately prior to and after infliximab infusion. Results There was no correlation between body mass index of RA patients and baseline serum level of visitant. Also, no significant correlations between baseline visfatin levels and the age at the time of the study or at the onset of the disease, disease duration, ESR and CRP levels, DAS28, lipids, insulin sensitivity, resistin or ate cumulative prednisone dose at the time of the study were found. Visit inn levels did not change upon infliximab infusion. Conclusions In RA patients on TNE-alpha blocker treatment, circulating visfatin levels are unrelated to disease activity, adiposity or metabolic syndrome. The beneficial effect of anti-TNF-alpha therapy on cardiovascular mortality in RA does not seem to be mediated by changes in serum levels of visfatin.