The Impact of Obesity on the severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr.S.Michael Rajam Geetha; Dr.Siva Somana; Dr.V.G.Karpagavalli

Volume : VII, Issue : I, January - 2018

The Impact of Obesity on the severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr. S. Michael Rajam Geetha, Dr. Siva Somana, Dr. V. G. Karpagavalli

Abstract :

Aims and Objectives:The fat stores in our body secrete many hormones and cytokines including Leptin, an adipokine secreted in increased amounts by adipocytes in obesity that not only regulate the energy balance but also regulate the inflammatory and immune responses.This study was designed to measure the serum Leptin levels and calculate the BMI in Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) patients and study the impact of obesity in the disease activity of Rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Methodology: Sixty adult RA patients and 30 sex and age matched healthy controls were selected for this case control study. Serum Leptin levels were estimated in the study subjects and compared with the Body mass index (BMI) using Quetelet index.

Results:RA patients showed statistically significant higher mean serum Leptin level than healthy controls (48.78 + 32.00ng/mL versus 11.94 + 6.11ng/mL respectively, p=<0.001.The serum Leptin levels showed a statistically significant positive correlation with body mass index (p= 0.001).

Conclusion: As the serum Leptin levels were significantly higher in the RA patients than in the controls it is understood that Leptin plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of RA as a proinflammatory cytokine. The serum Leptin levels correlated well with body mass index indicating that the body fat stores can also decide upon the incidence and progression of RA.