Serum uric acid increases in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases after 3  months of treatment with TNF inhibitors

In this study, SUA, CRP, creatinine, MCP-1, IFN- α2, IFN-γ, Il-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17a, IL-18, IL-23, IL-33, TNF-α, and allantoin levels were measured prior to and after 3 months of TNFis treatment in patients with SARDs. The values obtained in the biochemical assays were then tested for associations with the patients’ demograp hic and disease-related data. A total of 128 patients (rheumatoid arthritis,n = 44; ankylosing spondylitis,n = 45; psoriatic arthritis,n = 23; and adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis,n = 16) participated in this study. Among the entire patient population, SUA levels significantly increased 3 months after starting treatment with TNFis (279.5 [84.0] vs. 299.0 [102.0] μmol/l,p <  0.0001), while the levels of CRP, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 significantly decreased. Male sex was the most powerful baseline predictor of ΔSUA in univariate and multivariate models. None of the measured laboratory-based parameters had statistically significant effects on the magnitude of ΔSUA. 3 m onths of anti-TNF therapy increased the levels of SUA in patients with SARDs, but neither the measured pro-inflammatory cytokines nor the oxidation to allantoin appeared responsible for this effect.
Source: Rheumatology International - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research