Correlation between sarcopenia and nailfold microcirculation, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and IL-17 levels in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Lei Zhang, Dongmei Mao, Qi Zhang
Abstract
AIMS: To investigate the correlation between sarcopenia and nailfold microcirculation and serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25 (OH) D3] (instead of 25-hydroxyvitamin D) and IL-17 levels in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: 130 female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 80 healthy controls were tested. Nailfold capillaroscopic scores (NFCS) were measured. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was used to measure skeletal muscle mass. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α. Serum 25 (OH) D3 concentration was determined by photochemical immunoassay. The correlation was analyzed by Pearson's correlation, and the influencing factors were analyzed by binary logistic regression. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the control group, NFCS and serum IL-17 levels were higher in the RA group, while the serum 25 (OH) D3 and skeletal mass index (SMI) were lower. (2) Pearson correlation analysis found: SMI was positively correlated with 25 (OH) D3 (r=0.515, P<0.001), SMI was negatively correlated with IL-17 (r=-0.468, P<0.001), SMI was negatively correlated with NFS (r = -0.229, P=0.009); (3) Logistic regression analysis: serum 25 (OH) D3 was a protective factor for sarcopenia (OR=0.392, P=0.016); IL-17, C-reactive protein, and NFS were risk factors for sarcopenia (OR=1.516, P=0.049; OR=1.469, P=0.045; OR=3.497, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Secondary sarcopenia in RA is common and is closely related to microcirculation abnormalities. Increased NFCS is a risk factor for sarcopenia. Decreased serum 25 (OH) D3 levels and increased IL-17 are also risk factors for sarcopenia, but the mechanisms involved in sarcopenia and microcirculation abnormalities need further investigation.