Uric acid and the bone and muscle status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The aim – to evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass with uric acid (UA) level in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methods. A total of 182 women with confirmed RA (median age 61 [53; 66] years) were examined. Clinical and laboratory examination was performed, including blood serum UA testing, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in standard measurement areas and the whole body. Results. The UA level in the examined group was 258.5 [198.0; 309.5] μmol/l. A comparative analysis depending on the UA level quartile revealed significant differences between the groups in age, body mass index, appendicular muscle index (AMI), total muscle mass (TMM), and total muscle index (TMI). The direct stepwise regression method showed that the UA level in women with RA was not associated with the BMD value in all measurement areas (p>0.05), but was associated with all quantitative indices of muscle mass (with AMI – β=0.29; with TMM – β=0.37; with TMI – β=0.35; p<0.001). Conclusion . In women with RA, no independent association was found between UA level and BMD in standard measurement areas. A significant positive association between UA and appendicular and total muscle mass was revealed.