Nerve Growth Factor and Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with TNF‐α Blockers

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Abstract
Twenty consecutive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (mean age 50.4 ± 10.5 years; 17 females; mean disease duration 5.78 ± 3.75 years) enrolled for tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blockers therapy (10 infliximab and 10 etanercept) were selected. Before starting therapy, 3 and 6 months thereafter all patients were evaluated for disease activity score (DAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). After 3 and 6 months a significant reduction in DAS, ESR, CRP, and IL-6 was observed, whereas no significant differences of NGF and BDNF serum levels were found. These preliminary results confirm that TNF-α blockers significantly improve disease activity and inflammation in RA; nevertheless further studies are needed to explain the mechanisms regulating NGF and BDNF release in RA patients treated with TNF-α blockers. © 2006 New York Academy of Sciences

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