Effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy on lipid profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Analyse the effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy on serum levels of lipid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients (26 females, 3 males) with established RA undergoing anti-TNF therapy (n=12, adalimumab; n=11, infliximab; n=6, etanercept) were recruited. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and apolipoproteins (apo b and apo a) were assessed at baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment.

Lipids and theirs carriers in sportsmen: the lipoprotein particles.

This study presents an original approach to the effect of regular sporting activity on the metabolism of lipids. We have examined the physiological variations of lipoparticles (Lp) AI, Lp B:CIII, Lp B:E, Lp (a) and the principal lipid markers in 21 high-level rugby players and men of the same age group who take part in no sporting activity (reference group; n = 35). The analysis showed a paradoxical decrease in the high-density lipoprotein fraction of cholesterol (P < 0.

Comparison of different treatment regimens in a case of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

The laboratory results of five periods of different treatment regimens were compared in a 19-year-old girl with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH): weekly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis sessions with dextran sulfate columns (LA 15, Kaneka Corporation, Osaka, Japan) without statin administration; weekly LDL apheresis with polyacrylate columns (DALI, Fresenius Adsorber Technology, Bad Homburg, Germany) without statin; LDL apheresis as in Period 2 with 40 mg atorvastatin daily; LDL apheresis as in Period 2 with 80 mg atorvastatin daily; and fortnightly LDL apheresis sessions with polyacrilate and administration of 80 mg atorvastatin daily. The five treatments were given in the above order, and each lasted at least 2 months. To compare the effectiveness of the different methods, the blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were measured before each session, and the percentage decreases in the blood levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were recorded during sessions in Periods 1 and 2.