LAUSR

Abstract Background and objective Multiple studies have found a direct relationship between leptin concentrations and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Patients and methods We studied 77 patients with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis; the leptin determination was through an enzyme immunoassay. Disease activity was assessed by the DAS-28 CRP. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the association between significant variables and leptin concentrations. Results 40.3% of the patients were in remission, 41.6% were mildly active, 11.7% were moderately active and 6.5% were severely active. The results show an independent association between higher concentrations of leptin and disease activity (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.4–3.2; p 0.03), the number of swollen joints (OR 4.6; 95% CI 1.7–8.3; p 0.000), the number of painful joints (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.6–4.6; p 0.000), and the presence of metabolic syndrome (OR 1.3; 95% IC 1.2–1.9; p 0.045). Conclusion The data suggest that serum leptin is elevated in patients with active RA.