Serum bilirubin concentrations in patients with takayasu arteritis

Abstract

Context.-Bilirubin has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress action. Progression of inflammation involving arteries is a crucial activator in pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis (TA). Objective.-To investigate the relationship between serum bilirubin and TA. Design.-Our study involved 115 consecutive TA patients. Patients with active-phase disease were followed and received prednisone therapy. Results.-Lower concentrations of serum bilirubin were detected in TA patients compared with healthy subjects (0.6 6 0.31 versus 0.7 6 0.22 mg/dL, P .02). Serum bilirubin concentrations in active TA patients were lower than those in inactive patients (0.5 6 0.20 versus 0.8 6 0.32 mg/dL, P , .001). In all patients with TA, serum bilirubin correlated positively with total protein (r 0.193, P .04) and negatively with C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r0.213, P .03, and r0.532, P , .001, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that each decrease of 1 mg/dL in serum bilirubin was associated with a 1.10 times increase in the odds for TA compared with the controls (odds ratio 0.913, 95% CI, 0.856-0.974; P.006). Serum bilirubin was correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (b0.170, P