J Rheum Dis.  2023 Apr;30(2):116-125. 10.4078/jrd.2023.0005.

Circulating leptin and its correlation with rheumatoid arthritis activity: a meta-analysis

• Lee YH
• Song GG

• KMID: 2541055
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2023.0005

Abstract

Objective
The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the levels of leptin in the circulating of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the severity of the disease.
Methods
We looked through the databases of Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library. We conducted a meta-analysis on the correlations between circulating leptin and the Disease Activity Score 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and Creactive protein (CRP) levels in RA patients, as well as a meta-analysis of circulating or circulating leptin levels in RA patients.
Results
This meta-analysis study analyzed 42 different comparisons from 37 different publications, including a total of 2,350 patients with RA and 1,815 controls. The RA group had substantially higher leptin levels than the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD]=0.507, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.309~0.704, p<0.001). The finding that RA patients had higher leptin levels was unaffected by sample size. The correlation between circulating leptin levels and DAS28 is statistically significant (correlation coefficient=0.247, 95% CI=0.087~0.396, p=0.003). Leptin levels are also correlated with CRP levels (correlation coefficient=0.203, 95% CI=0.048~0.349, p=0.010).
Conclusion
This comprehensive meta-analysis demonstrates that the circulating leptin levels of RA patients are elevated, and provides compelling evidence of the significant relationship between leptin levels and the activity of RA. The findings of this research suggest that leptin plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of this disease.

Keyword

Leptin; Rheumatoid arthritis; Meta-analysis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The procedure for selecting the studies included in this meta-analysis. RA: rheumatoid arthritis.

• 

  Fig. 2 Meta-analysis investigating the relationship between leptin and RA, taking into account all study participants (A) and considering any racial groups (B). CI: confidence interval, RA: rheumatoid arthritis.

• 

  Fig. 3 Meta-analysis of the relationship between leptin and the DAS28-ESR (A) as well as CRP (B). CI: confidence interval, DAS28-ESR: Disease Activity Score 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP: C-reactive protein.

• 

  Fig. 4 The funnel plot displaying the results of the studies that investigated the connection between RA and leptin levels. The filled circles indicate the studies that demonstrate publication bias. The diamonds at the bottom of the graph represent the summary estimates of the impact, both before and after accounting for publication bias. RA: rheumatoid arthritis.

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