The relationship between fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and clinical and laboratory parameters in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Background: Systemic FGF-21 levels are known to be associated with obesity and inflammatory cytokines, and with reduced functional status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is possible to model the severity of RA in mice by administering exogenous FGF-21. All these facts indicate an important role of FGF-21 in the progression of this disease. It is known that the concentration of FGF-21 in blood serum is positively correlated with age. Given the association between FGF-21, metabolic changes, and the presence of chronic inflammation, certain correlations can be hypothesized in older RA patients. The aim of the study:To study the relationship between serum FGF-21 levels and clinical and laboratory parameters in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods: We observed 88 women with a verified diagnosis of RA; the average age of the patients was 67.4±6.9 (61.7-73.4) years. Disease activity according to DAS 28 was 3.52±1.14 (3.28-3.76) points. Basic therapy for patients with RA complied with clinical recommendations. Results: A positive correlation was found between the systemic level of FGF-21 and weight, as well as BMI (p<0.0001), and a negative correlation with the duration of RA (ρ=-0.22; p=0.041). A relationship was also found between the level of FGF-21 and the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (p=0.027). There were no other correlations with comorbid conditions, including the presence of osteoporosis and osteoporetic fractures. It was found that the level of FGF-21 in the blood serum was significantly higher in patients taking glucocorticosteroids at the time of the study (p=0.001). Conclusion: Further study of the significance of FGF-21 in patients with RA opens up broad prospects for the use of this myokine as a drug or therapeutic target
Akhverdyan YuR, Papichev EV, Zavodovsky BV, et al. The relationship between fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and clinical and laboratory parameters in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Research Results in Biomedicine. 2026;12(2):303-315. Russian.
DOI: 10.18413/2658-6533-2026-12-2-0-8
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