Interleukin 6, interleukin 17, disease-related and contextual factor association with depression, and its severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ConclusionDepression is frequent in RA and is strongly associated to elevated serum IL-6, IL-17, CRP levels, and disease activity-related factors.Key Points• RA patients are at increased risk of developing depression, particularly if their level of disease activity scores, serum IL-6, and IL-17 levels increases.• Patient characteristics associated with depression in RA include living without family, without employments, and with co-morbid hypertension, while RA disease factors are pain, functional disability, and high disease activity.• A multidisciplinary cooperative approach to RA patient care with regular assessments of these factors associated with depression should be incorporated into routine care programs to improve patients’ self care capabilities and mitigate or prevent depression in these patients.
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research