To determinate the serum level of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore its role in the development of RA and its clinical significance.

Blood samples were collected from 67 cases of RA patients and 65 healthy controls, the serum levels of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Adipokine levels in different groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman test and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters [erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C reactive protein(CRP), blood platelet (PLT), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), disease activity score (DAS)28].

The serum level of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin in RA patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls[8.17(4.51, 28.53) μg/ml vs 6.83(4.48, 25.32) μg/ml, U=1 663, P=0.019]; [6.56(5.34, 8.40) ng/L vs 4.24 (3.01,6.65) ng/L, U=762, P=0.001]; [10.65(5.99,20.70) ng/ml vs 6.12(4.49, 9.98) ng/ml, U=1 406.5, P=0.000] .The serum level of visfatin was positively correlated with RF in patients with RA(r=0.186, P=0.013), and serum levels of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin were positively correlated with DAS28 (r=0.370, 0.263, 0.285; P<0.05). The level of visfatin in RA patients with high activity group was higher than that in the low and moderate activity group [4.37(2.72, 7.53) ng/Lvs 4.11 (3.11, 6.44) ng/L, U=133.5, P=0.019].

Multivariate analysis has showm that ESR, PLT and DAS28 can significantly affect adiponectin, and CRP can significantly influence resistin. Serum level of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin are elevated and correlate with DAS28, suggesting that they may be involved in the chronic inflammation of RA.

Arthritis rheumatoid; Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase; Resistin