ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DYNAMIC EXERCISE THERAPY AND IGF-1 AND IGFBP-3 CONCENTRATIONS IN THE PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

M.A. Melikoglu, S. Karatay , K. Senel , F. Akçay Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biochemistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, TurkeyObjectives: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between short-term dynamic exercise therapy and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: Forty patients with RA and 14 healthy controls were included in this study. RA patients were randomised into two groups and they were assigned to a dynamic exercise or to a ROM exercise programmes. Also healthy controls carried out the dynamic exercise programme. Dynamic exercise therapy was performed on treadmill and intensity level such that heart rates exceeded 60% of maximal heart rate during 20 minutes. Exercise frequency was 5 sessions per week for 2 weeks. Morning stiffness duration, pain (VAS), Stanford health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and Ritchie articular index were evaluated in RA patients. Also, we recorded the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in all of the subjects. Clinical and laboratory assessments of the participants were determined before, at the seventh and fifteenth days of treatmentResults: The pain evaluation and Ritchie scores were significantly improved by the dynamic exercise treatment in RA patients. The important increases were recorded on circulating IGF-1 in dynamic exercise group with RA although IGF-1 levels showed a significant decrease in the other patients. In the healthy control group, serum IGF-1 levels showed a decline after exercise, however these changes were not statistically significant, except at the first week (p<0.05). Also no significant changes were observed on serum IGFBP-3 levels in three groups.Conclusion: Our results suggest that dynamic exercise therapy increases to serum IGF-1 levels in RA patients. The manipulation of serum IGF-1 levels by dynamic exercise therapy might be a possible mechanism mediates the beneficial effects of dynamic exercise in RA patients.Citation: , volume , supplement , year 2004, page Session: Rheumatoid arthritis – Treatment