The Role of Myostatin in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Sarcopenia | ||
| The Medical Journal of Cairo University | ||
| Volume 93, Issue 09, September 2025, Pages 1297-1306 PDF (148.5 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mjcu.2025.464443 | ||
| Author | ||
| NADA MEGAWER, M.Sc.*; MANAL A.M. AWAD, M.D.*; AHMAD S. HASAN, M.D.** YASMIN ADEL, M.D.* | ||
| The Departments of Rheumatology & Rehabilitation* and Clinical Pathology**, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Fifty percent of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can develop muscle loss. Primary sarcopenia appears in older individuals. However, secondary sarcopenia can appear in younger individuals with chronic inflammation. RA patients may have a higher risk for developing secondary sarcopenia due to chronic inflammation. Myostatin is a part of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth. Aim of Study: To assess serum level of myostatin in RA patients and to study its relation to sarcopenia and disease ac-tivity. Results: The serum myostatin level was significantly high in RA patients versus controls. RA group showed significant decrease in skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), grip strength, 6-minutes walking distance test and gait speed when compared to controls. Serum myostatin level showed significant negative corre-lation with SMI, Grip strength, 6-m walking distance test and Gait speed. A significant high levels of serum myostatin was found in pre-sarcopenia and sarcopenia stages in RA patients compared to those with normal muscle status. Serum myostatin level was related to grades of disease activity, also there was a significant association between different sarcopenia stages with different grades of DAS28-CRP. A higher incidence of sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia stages was found in RA patients at risk of malnutrition. Conclusion: This study concluded that higher serum myostatin levels were present in RA patients compared to healthy controls. Myostatin is an important risk factor which may contrib-ute to development of RA associated sarcopenia in addition to malnutrition and persistent disease activity. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Rheumatoid arthritis; Myostatin; Sarcopenia; Disease activity | ||
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