High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Background High body mass index (BMI) has been shown to have an association with chronic widespread pain (CWP), both in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Research on the adipose tissue and it’s adipokines, for example the well described leptin, is...

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Main Authors: M. Aronsson, S. Bergman, E. Lindqvist, M. L. E. Andersson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Arthritis Research & Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03463-x
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author M. Aronsson
S. Bergman
E. Lindqvist
M. L. E. Andersson
author_facet M. Aronsson
S. Bergman
E. Lindqvist
M. L. E. Andersson
author_sort M. Aronsson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background High body mass index (BMI) has been shown to have an association with chronic widespread pain (CWP), both in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Research on the adipose tissue and it’s adipokines, for example the well described leptin, is emerging. The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between leptin levels in blood and CWP in patients with RA. Methods In this cross-sectional study 334 patients with RA filled in a questionnaire including a pain mannequin and questions on weight, length and waist circumference. Data from the pain mannequin was used to calculate CWP. The subjects also submitted blood samples to a biobank that were used for this study to determine leptin levels using an ELISA-method. Results Patients fulfilling the 2019 criteria for CWP in this study had significantly higher leptin levels, waist circumferences and BMI. There was a significant association between leptin levels and CWP, odds ratio (OR) 1.014 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.007–1.020), p < 0.001. The association remained after adjusting for BMI, gender and age OR 1.008 (95% CI 1.000-1.017), p 0.046. When leptin was divided into quartile groups a trend could be observed where higher leptin values gave higher OR for CWP. Conclusions This study showed an increased occurrence of CWP in RA-patients with high leptin levels. The association between leptin and CWP remained after adjusting for gender, age and BMI or waist circumference. This suggests that not just production of leptin in the adipose tissue, but also other factors such as leptin resistance may play a role. The association between leptin and CWP was strongest in the patients with the highest leptin levels. Trial registration This study is a cross-sectional study without intervention and the cohort used was initiated prior to the implementation of mandatory registration requirements, therefore it is not registered.
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spelling doaj-art-c53abb8d7ec14d7089382900d860aa3b2024-12-29T12:39:45ZengBMCArthritis Research & Therapy1478-63622024-12-012611610.1186/s13075-024-03463-xHigh leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritisM. Aronsson0S. Bergman1E. Lindqvist2M. L. E. Andersson3Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University, Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University, Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University, Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University, Faculty of MedicineAbstract Background High body mass index (BMI) has been shown to have an association with chronic widespread pain (CWP), both in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Research on the adipose tissue and it’s adipokines, for example the well described leptin, is emerging. The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between leptin levels in blood and CWP in patients with RA. Methods In this cross-sectional study 334 patients with RA filled in a questionnaire including a pain mannequin and questions on weight, length and waist circumference. Data from the pain mannequin was used to calculate CWP. The subjects also submitted blood samples to a biobank that were used for this study to determine leptin levels using an ELISA-method. Results Patients fulfilling the 2019 criteria for CWP in this study had significantly higher leptin levels, waist circumferences and BMI. There was a significant association between leptin levels and CWP, odds ratio (OR) 1.014 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.007–1.020), p < 0.001. The association remained after adjusting for BMI, gender and age OR 1.008 (95% CI 1.000-1.017), p 0.046. When leptin was divided into quartile groups a trend could be observed where higher leptin values gave higher OR for CWP. Conclusions This study showed an increased occurrence of CWP in RA-patients with high leptin levels. The association between leptin and CWP remained after adjusting for gender, age and BMI or waist circumference. This suggests that not just production of leptin in the adipose tissue, but also other factors such as leptin resistance may play a role. The association between leptin and CWP was strongest in the patients with the highest leptin levels. Trial registration This study is a cross-sectional study without intervention and the cohort used was initiated prior to the implementation of mandatory registration requirements, therefore it is not registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03463-xCWPAdipokinesBiomarkersSensitizationRA
spellingShingle M. Aronsson
S. Bergman
E. Lindqvist
M. L. E. Andersson
High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis Research & Therapy
CWP
Adipokines
Biomarkers
Sensitization
RA
title High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
title_full High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
title_fullStr High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
title_full_unstemmed High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
title_short High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
title_sort high leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis
topic CWP
Adipokines
Biomarkers
Sensitization
RA
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03463-x
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