Background Objective: To compare the incidences of overweight, abdominal obesity, hyperleptinemia and insulin resistance (IR) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods The study included 96 patients (age 18–65 years): 46 women with SLE and 50 – with RA, matched by age and diseases duration. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy and lactation, a history of diabetes, fasting hyperglycemia (≥ 6.1 mmol/L) and/or hypoglycemic drugs taking. The concentration of leptin (ELISA) and insulin (electrochemiluminescent analysis) was determined in all patients, and the HOMA-IR index was calculated. Hyperleptinemia was diagnosed at leptin concentrations >11.1 ng/ml, IR – at HOMA-IR values ≥2.77, abdominal obesity (AO) – at waist circumference (WC) ≥80cm.

Results Leptin concentrations, insulin levels, HOMA-IR were higher, and CRP was lower in SLE than in RA (p≤0,001 for all). Hyperleptinemia was found in 34 (74%) SLE and 23 (46%) RA patients (p=0.005), IR – in 10 (22%) and 5 (10%) women, respectively (p=0.2). WC, body mass index (BMI), the frequency of AO (35% vs 40%) and BMI≥25 kg/m2 (43% vs 38%) in the groups did not differ (p>0,05 for all). Glucocorticoids (GC) were received by 38 (85%) patients with SLE and 18 (36%) – with RA (p<0.0001), daily doses were 10 [7.5;10] mg and 5[5;10] mg, respectively (p=0.001).

Conclusions In women with similar anthropometric parameters, hyperleptinemia, but not IR incidences, was more common in SLE than in RA, which may be due to both less expression of inflammation and differences in GC regimens.