Plasma resistin and leptin levels in overweight and lean patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Aim: Adipocytokines; are now considered important players in the etiopathogenesis of numerous metabolic and inflammatory disorders. However, plasma leptin and resistin levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are still unclear. We aimed to investigate the plasma levels of leptin and resistin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to compare them with controls. Materials and Methods: Consecutive 52 patients with RA were compared with 52 control subjects in terms of mean leptin and resistin levels. Results: Patients with RA showed considerably higher plasma levels of leptin (34.3 +/- 27.9 vs. 11.1 +/- 4.1) and resistin (4.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 4.0 +/- 1.3) than healthy controls (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference regarding age, duration of disease, sex, CRP, and leptin and resistin levels between overweight and lean RA Subjects. Plasma leptin level was significantly correlated with ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) (r = 0.287, P = 0.039) and swollen and tender joint count (r = 0.563, P < 0.0001) but not with resistin in subjects with RA. Measuring the plasma leptin level may be a potential marker of disease activity in RA. Conclusions: Studies including more RA patients might be needed to define the role of leptin and resistin in RA subjects.