María Carmen García-Gómez1, Eugenia de Lama2, Sergi Ordoñez-Palau3, Joan Miquel Nolla4, Emili Corbella5, Xavier Pintó6. 1. Department of Rheumatology, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: ggcarme@gmail.com. 2. Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain. 4. Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Lipid Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Fipec, Idibell, CiberObn, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 6. Lipid Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Fipec, Idibell, CiberObn, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of gallstone disease and identify associated risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population. METHODS: Eighty-four women with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed via a structured interview, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and blood test including lipid profile. The prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis was compared with data from a study of the Spanish population matched by age groups. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of the 84 women had gallstone disease (33.3%). RA women with and without gallstone disease were similar in most of the variables assessed, except for older age and menopausal status in the former. A greater prevalence of gallstone disease was seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the general population of the same age; however, the differences were significant only in women aged 60 or older (45.5% versus 23.1% respectively, P-value .008). The age-adjusted OR of developing gallstone disease in RA women compared with general population women was 2,3 (95% CI: 1.3-4.1). A significantly higher HDL3-c subfraction and higher apoA-I/HDL and HDL3-c/TC ratios were observed in patients with gallstone disease. CONCLUSION: Women with rheumatoid arthritis may have a predisposition to gallstones that can manifest in middle or older age compared with women in the general population. This situation could be related to chronic inflammation and HDL metabolism.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of gallstone disease and identify associated risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population. METHODS: Eighty-four women with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed via a structured interview, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and blood test including lipid profile. The prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis was compared with data from a study of the Spanish population matched by age groups. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of the 84 women had gallstone disease (33.3%). RA women with and without gallstone disease were similar in most of the variables assessed, except for older age and menopausal status in the former. A greater prevalence of gallstone disease was seen in rheumatoid arthritispatients compared to the general population of the same age; however, the differences were significant only in women aged 60 or older (45.5% versus 23.1% respectively, P-value .008). The age-adjusted OR of developing gallstone disease in RA women compared with general population women was 2,3 (95% CI: 1.3-4.1). A significantly higher HDL3-c subfraction and higher apoA-I/HDL and HDL3-c/TC ratios were observed in patients with gallstone disease. CONCLUSION:Women with rheumatoid arthritis may have a predisposition to gallstones that can manifest in middle or older age compared with women in the general population. This situation could be related to chronic inflammation and HDL metabolism.