POS0576 EFFECTS OF ACUTE EXERCISE ON SERUM BDNF LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Background:Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrofic factor that may show healing, survival-promoting and protective effects on neurons in central and peripheral nervous system. The effect of physical exercise on serum BDNF is unclear. Also, BDNF level was found significantly lower in rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients with depression.Objectives:Aim of this study is to investigate the variation of BDNF levels following acute exercise and potential correlation between BDNF levels and depression.Methods:This study included 44 RA patients and 44 age and sex matched healthy controls (HC). Aerobic exercise was performed to all participants for a single session. The intervention was performed on a treadmill and included 5 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of walking exercise reaching at 60- 80% of Maximal heart rate and 5 minutes of cool-down. Depression and anxiety levels were evaluated with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Blood samples from all subjects were taken and centrifuged before and immediately after the exercise intervention.Results:Serum BDNF levels (both baseline and post-exercise) were similar in the RA and HC group (Table 1). Although after aerobic exercise serum BDNF levels were significantly decreased in both RA and HC groups (Wilcoxon Rank P < 0.05) ΔBDNF levels was significantly higher in the RA group than HC group. Serum BDNF level was increased in 30.2% of healthy subjects and 4.5% of RA patients (P = 0.002). On the other hand, BDI, HADS depression and HADS anxiety indices were correlated significantly with ΔBDNF levels in the RA group (p<0.05) but not in HC group.Conclusion:A single bout of exercise may be effective on serum BDNF levels in patients with RA and healthy subjects. However, psychological comorbidities affect the amelioration of BDNF level, in RA. The long-term effect of alterations on BDF level is candidate to evaluate by prospective studies.Table 1.Clinical and laboratory characteristics in the study groupsRA (n=44)HC (n=44)PMean age, years46.8±10.343.4±6.40.071*Females, n (%)32 (72.7)31 (70.5)0.813**Active smokers, n (%)12 (27.3)10 (22.7)0.622**BMI, kg/m226.8±4.625.6±2.40.127*HADS Depression10.2±3.92.2±2.1<0.001*HADS Anxiety10.4±4.12.4±2.1<0.001*BDI17.9±8.13.7±4.1<0.001*BDNF (baseline), pg/ml798.9±381.1688.7±469.90.069***BDNF (post-exercise), pg/ml469.5±193.5509.9±380.40.593***ΔBDNF, pg/ml329.5±258.4211.1±302.60.047***BDNF increased, n (%)2 (4.5)13 (30.2)0.002**RA; rheumatoid arthritis, HC; healthy control, BMI; body mass index, HADS; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, BDI; Beck Depression Inventory, BDNF; brain derived neurotrophic factor*Student’s t test, **Chi square test and ***Mann Whitney U testDisclosure of Interests:None declared