Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune disease primarily affecting the peripheral joints. As a result of chronic inflammation in the synovial membrane, structural damage to cartilage and bones occurs. In addition, muscle atrophy is often present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially with a severe course.

Sarcopenia is a disease of skeletal muscles characterized by loss of strength, muscle mass, and impaired muscle function. People with sarcopenia have reduced mobility, a higher risk of accidents, falls, and disability. Hormonal changes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, inadequate nutrition, low physical activity, and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. These factors disrupt the homeostasis between proteosynthesis and proteolysis in skeletal muscle, leading to increased degradation of muscle proteins. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, this process is mainly promoted by pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are produced at an increased level in these patients. Treatment with antirheumatic drugs effectively reduces inflammation by blocking inflammatory mediators and their signaling. Reducing the inflammatory activity of the disease using antirheumatic drugs can prevent joint damage as well as loss of muscle mass and the development of sarcopenia (Fig. 1, Ref. 61). Text in PDF www.lekarsky.herba.sk.
KEY WORDS: rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, sarcopenia, pro-inflammatory cytokines, antirheumatic drugs.
Lek Obz 2024, 73 (5): 170-176

Lucia PASTVOVÁ 1, Katarína BAUEROVÁ 2, Jana MUCHOVÁ 1

1 Ústav lekárskej chémie, biochémie a klinickej biochémie, LF UK, Bratislava, prednosta prof. MUDr. L. Turecký, CSc.
2 Centrum experimentálnej medicíny, Slovenská akadémia vied, Ústav experimentálnej farmakológie a toxikológie, Bratislava, riaditeľ RNDr. M. Mach, PhD.