Effects of Antitumor Necrosis Factor Therapy on Osteoprotegerin, Neopterin, and sRANKL Concentrations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Figure 1

Concentrations of osteoprotegerin decreased significantly under adalimumab therapy (a), while sRANKL levels (b) and the sRANKL/OPG ratio (c) did not change. Grey columns: baseline concentrations and black columns: concentrations after 12 weeks of adalimumab treatment. In six patients <50 years (indicated by striped columns) OPG levels at baseline were significantly higher than in the other patients at baseline and decreased significantly under adalimumab treatment. sRANKL concentrations at baseline tended to be higher in older patients, and the sRANKL/OPG ratio was significantly higher in older patients. Patients who achieved remission are indicated by white arrows.

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