Association of Triple Therapy With Improvement in Cholesterol Profiles Over Two-Year Followup in the Treatment of Early Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate long-term changes in cholesterol levels in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were randomized to begin treatment with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, MTX plus etanercept, or triple therapy (MTX plus sulfasalazine plus hydroxychloroquine) in the Treatment of Early Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis (TEAR) trial.

Methods

Levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were analyzed in 416 patients participating in the TEAR trial, during 102 weeks of followup. Associations of cholesterol changes with disease activity and drug treatment were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis with mixed-effect linear models to model within-subject covariance over time.

Results

SUBMITTER: Charles-Schoeman C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4774543 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature