Clinical Characteristics of Lipid Metabolism in Untreated Patients with Anti-MDA5 Antibody-Positive

Wenhan Huang, Feifeng Ren, Lei Luo, Jun Zhou, Dongmei Huang, Lin Tang Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lin TangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail hopetang@163.comObjective: Clinical characterization of lipid metabolism in untreated patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies-positive (anti-MDA5+).Methods: Body-mass index (BMI), autoantibodies, lipid levels, and serum ferritin levels in 57 anti-MDA5+ patients were determined in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.Results: Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) levels were significantly lower in deceased group than in the survival group (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of HDL and ApoA1 were significantly lower in patients who were simultaneously anti-MDA5+ and anti-Ro-52+ than in patients who were anti-MDA5+ alone (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, HDL, and ApoA1 were significantly decreased in patients with high levels of serum ferritin compared with patients with low levels (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood lipid levels between patients grouped according to BMI.Conclusion: 1) HDL and ApoA1 levels are important indicators of poor prognosis in anti-MDA5+ patients; 2) Dysregulated lipid metabolism in anti-MDA5+ patients is closely associated with anti-Ro-52 antibody and ferritin levels but independent of BMI; 3) HDL involvement in inflammation and immune regulation merits close attention by rheumatologists.Keywords: anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies, anti-Ro-52 antibody, lipid, high-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein A1