Prognostic Nutritional Index as an Interleukin-6 Signature and a
Prognostic Indicator for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical
Practice
Abstract
Objective: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a crucial cytokine for treating
rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is a
nutritional indicator originally developed for predicting prognosis
after cancer surgery. This potentially has an association with IL-6
activity. We retrospectively assessed the relationship between PNI and
disease activity index regarding IL-6 using unicentral retrospective
cohort data. Methods: RA outpatients were chosen after examining the
relationship between IL-6 signatures and PNI. In RA patients,
correlations between PNI and 28-joints disease activity score using
C-reactive protein (DAS28) were evaluated with methotrexate (MTX)
administered or not (Phase 1), biologic or synthetic-targeted
disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) administered (Phase
2 or later). Studies were performed at initiation (baseline; BL) and
every three months after. Results: After confirming a substantial
correlation with IL-6 signatures, PNI showed a significant correlation
with DAS28. Especially in Phase 1, when MTX was prescribed, and in Phase
2, when an IL-6 inhibitor, Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor, and tumor
necrotizing factor (TNF) inhibitor with MTX prescription was
administered, PNI at BL showed a significant correlation with the
movement of DAS28 after that in IL-6 inhibitor administrated patients.
Conclusions: PNI is associated with IL-6 activity and can predict DAS28
response after MTX and IL-6 inhibitors.