FRI0238 The effect of rituximab on lipid levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with cardiovascular comorbidity. In particular, patients with RA are known to be at increased for the development of atherosclerosis. Treatment with biological agents in RA may affect lipid levels. Objectives The aim was to study the effect of rituximab treatment on lipid levels in RA patients. Methods In a cohort of 20 patients with RA lipid levels were studied before, 6 and 12 months after treatment with the biological agent rituximab (2x1000 mg i.v. infusions 2 wks apart) at baseline, 6 and 12 months later. All patients fulfilled the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA. Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months later. Results At baseline total cholesterol was 207.41±8.33 mg/dl (mean±SEM), 6 months and 12 months later increasing to 218.27±7.02 and 226.12±8.71 mg/dl, respectively (p Conclusions Treatment with the biological agent rituximab in RA resulted in an increase in total cholesterol, paralleled by an increase in HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, while triglyceride levels decreased. The adverse effect on total cholesterol levels may be counteracted by the parallel increase in HDL thus conferring a beneficial effect on the patients as far as cardiovascular risk is concerned. These findings have therapeutic implications as the effect of rituximab on lipid levels may render systematic treatment with statins necessary in rheumatoid arthritis. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared