Assessment of Plasma Lipid Levels in Sudanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Khartoum State

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that the immune system is attacks ,causing inflammation (painful, swelling) in the affected parts of the body. Objectives: This study conducted to assess serum lipid profile in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Material and Methods: This was case control study include 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients as cases, and 50 apparently healthy individuals as controls (age and gender were matched between two groups). The serum lipid profile (TC,TG, LDL-c and HDL-c) was measured using auto-chemistry analyzer Mindray BS-200. The data obtained was subjected to analysis using statistical packaged for social science computer program (SPSS version 16). Results: The results revealed a significant increase in total cholesterol , triglycerides and LDL-c in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to control group.(mean ± SD:179.2 ± 33.8 mg/dl versus 166.3 ± 25.9 mg/dl P .value=0.036), (217.1 ± 36.5 mg/dl versus 132.5 ± 33.9 mg/dl P. value=0.00),(108.8+24.9 mg/dl versus 90.3+29.7 mg/dl P. value=0.001) respectively. And significant decreased in HDL-c (33.7 ± 11.1 mg/dl versus 38.7+9.8 mg/dl ,P .value=0.018). The result showed, there were no correlation between cholesterol, triglycerides,LDL-c,HDL-c and age of rheumatoid arthritis patients (r=0.101,P-value=0.486),(r=-0.161,P-value=0.263),(r=-0.213,P-value=0.137),(r=0.070,P-value=0.627) respectively. Also there were no correlation between triglycerides, HDL-c and duration of disease (r=-0.003, P-value=0.983),(r=0.109,P-value=0.452) respectively. that there were positive correlation between cholesterol, LDL-c and duration of disease (r=0.513, P-value=0.000), (r=0.333, P-value=0.018) respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that, there was significant increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c levels and significant decreased in HDL-c level in rheumatoid arthritis patients and there were positive correlation between cholesterol, LDL-c level and duration of rheumatoid arthritis.