Tocilizumab lowers Lp(a) in rheumatoid arthritis patients, unlike other biologic therapies, the Spanish CARMA study of 775 patients (J Clin Lipidol 2017)

Original title: Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis on biologic therapy: Results from the CARdiovascular in rheuMAtology study project

J Clin Lipidol · 1 January 2017 · 7

García-Gómez C, Martín-Martínez MA, Castañeda S, Sanchez-Alonso F, Uriarte-Ecenarro M, González-Juanatey C, Romera-Baures M, Santos-Rey J, Pinto-Tasende JA, Quesada-Masachs E, Tornero-Molina J, Martínez-González O et al.

This baseline analysis of the CARMA project, a 10-year prospective Spanish study of cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory arthritis, examined Lp(a) in 775 RA patients classified by biologic therapy: none, anti-tumour necrosis factor, the anti-interleukin-6 receptor tocilizumab (TCZ), or other biologics. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in TCZ-treated patients, with no difference in atherogenic index compared with untreated patients. After adjusting for confounders, patients on biologic therapy had lower Lp(a) than those without, but only TCZ-treated patients reached statistical significance (beta -0.303, 95% CI -0.558 to -0.047, P=.02). The findings show RA patients treated with tocilizumab have significantly lower plasma Lp(a) than those without biologic therapy.

Original abstract

Background: Plasma concentrations of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), a lipoprotein with atherogenic and thrombogenic properties, have a strong genetic basis, although high concentrations of Lp(a) have also been reported in the context of inflammation, as in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Few studies evaluate the impact of biologic therapies (BT) on Lp(a) in RA, taking into account that with these new therapies a better control of inflammation is achieved.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the plasma concentrations of Lp(a) in Spanish RA patients on BT attending rheumatology outpatient clinics.

Methods: Baseline analysis of the CARdiovascular in rheuMAtology project, a 10-year prospective study, evaluating the risk of cardiovascular events in RA and other forms of inflammatory arthritis. RA patients were classified according to treatment: no biologic, anti-tumor necrosis factor, anti-interleukin-6 receptor tocilizumab (TCZ), and other biologic (rituximab or abatacept). A model of linear multivariate regression was built in which the dependent variable was Lp(a) concentration and the explanatory variable was BT. The model was adjusted for confounding factors.

Results: Seven hundred and seventy-five RA patients were analyzed. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly higher in TCZ-treated patients. Nevertheless, no significant difference in the atherogenic index between TCZ-treated patients and patients without BT was found. After adjusting for confounding factors, patients with BT had lower concentrations of Lp(a) than those without BT; however, only TCZ-treated patients achieved statistically significant differences (β: -0.303, 95% confidence interval: -0.558 to -0.047; P = .02).

Conclusions: RA patients treated with TCZ show lower plasma concentrations of Lp(a) compared with patients without BT.

Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.