Insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: To assess insulin resistance in early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to the clinical, inflammatory and biochemical characteristics of these patients.

Methods: Sixty-six untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease duration less than 1 year along with age and sex matched controls were studied. Disease activity score (DAS28) was used to assess disease activity. Plasma levels of C- reactive protein (CRP), glucose, insulin and complete lipid profile were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Results: RA patients revealed high grade systemic inflammation compared to control group p<0.0001. Patients with high disease activity were more insulin resistant than patients with moderate disease activity P<0.0001.

Conclusions: The findings of the present study showed that early untreated RA patients are characterized by a severe insulin resistant state that is driven primarily by disease activity and systemic inflammation.