Higher body mass index may mean less rheumatoid arthritis progression

People with high body masses tend to see a reduced rate of disease progression when affected by rheumatoid arthritis, highlights research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
A total of 1,068 people with rheumatoid arthritis involved in clinical trials of a drug called golimumab had radiograph scans at the start of the study and then after 52 weeks and 104 weeks of treatment. MRI scans of the wrist and hand were obtained at regular intervals.
Those who had a higher body mass index tended to have less disease progression at weeks 52 and 104, had a lower probability of progression in MRI erosion scores over two years, and tended to have less bone oedema (swelling in the bone). Other variables were unable to explain the results.
“Greater body mass index may indicate a less aggressive rheumatoid arthritis phenotype and aid in risk stratification,” the researchers say.
A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK comments:
“This is that rare occasion when having a higher body mass index is associated with something positive; in this case, lower probability of disease progression on X-ray. However, being overweight or obese is generally undesirable, and is a major risk factor not only for osteoarthritis, but also for rheumatoid arthritis.”
To read the original research click here.
Image credit: Fimb