Effects of Etanercept in Patients With the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome ranges from 20% to 34% in 40- to 59-year-old men and women in the United States, and this rate is increasing.¹ Evidence suggests a link among obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and coronary heart disease.^2-4 The metabolic syndrome is thought to be a state of chronic inflammation, characterized by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).⁵ These cytokines are secreted by adipocytes^6,7 and trigger an inflammatory cascade, resulting in increased C-reactive protein (CRP)⁸ level and a reduced adiponectin level.⁹ Inflammation may contribute to increased coronary artery disease risk in patients with the metabolic syndrome.^5,10