Recebido em (Received on) 01/11/2007. Aprovado (Approved), após revisão, em 21/10/08. Declaramos a inexistência de conflitos de interesse (We declare no conflict of interest).
Objective: To evaluate the lipid profile in rheumatoid arthritis and its association with the disease activity. Methods: This was a prospective study with 21 female patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and whose progress was accompanied for 1 year. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A and B, lipoprotein (a), ESR, as well as HAQ and disease activity through DAS28, were evaluated. Results: After 1 year, the total cholesterol level was increased in 66.6% of the patients (p=0.019) and the LDL-cholesterol level was also elevated in 80.9% of the patients (p=0.008). In contrast, the lipoprotein (a) level was reduced in 33.33% of the cases (p=0.003). A significant decrease also occurred in ESR, HAQ and DAS28. However, there was no association between the alteration of the lipid profile and the disease activity. Conclusion: Although the reduction in the disease activity (DAS28) was significant, the lipid profile worsened.
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