Lack of effect of TNFα blockade therapy on circulating adiponectin levels in patients with autoimmune disease: results from two independent prospective studies

Background Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory and potentially antiatherogenic molecule. Some recent reports suggest that tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) blockade therapy increases circulating adiponectin levels, but data are sparse and inconsistent. Methods Data from a double-blind placebo controlled study of onercept in 126 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and from pre- and post-adalimumab treatment in 171 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were used to examine the effect of TNF alpha blockade therapy on adiponectin. Results Despite expected associations of adiponectin with gender and baseline high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride, adiponectin levels did not change over time with TNF alpha blockade therapy in either group. The mean+/-SD absolute change in adiponectin levels was -0.23+/-4.6 mu g/ml in patients with PsA treated with combined onercept 50 mg and onercept 100 mg (vs placebo, p=0.60) and 0.28+/-3.23 mu g/ml in patients with RA treated with adalimumab (vs baseline, p=0.66). Conclusion These results do not support a significant effect of TNF alpha blockade therapy on circulating adiponectin levels in patients with autoimmune disease.