Abstract: Objective To investigate the state of insulin resistance and its relationship to serum resistin levels and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE）, as well as the effects of corticosteroid therapy on RI and serum resistin levels. Methods Forty patients with SLE and 31 age- and sex-matched normal human controls were enrolled into this study with informed consent. A total of 56 blood samples were obtained from 21 cases of active SLE and 35 cases of inactive SLE together with 31 samples from the controls. Fasting blood glucose（FBG） and fasting serum insulin levels were measured. Homeostatic model assessment （HOMA） equation was used to calculate insulin sensitivity（HOMA-S） and pancreatic beta cell function （HOMA-B）. Serum resistin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Results Compared with the normal controls, a significant increase was observed in patients with SLE in fasting serum insulin levels （17.46 ± 15.65 IU/L vs 8.57 ± 7.54 IU/L, P < 0.05） and HOMA-B （167.47 vs 84.10, P < 0.05）, along with a decrease in HOMA-S （0.42 vs 0.78）. The serum resistin level in patients with inactive SLE was significantly lower than that in patients with active SLE （2.72 mg/L vs 10.90 mg/L, P < 0.05）, but higher than that in normal controls （2.72 mg/L vs 2.43 mg/L, P < 0.05）. After corticosteroid therapy, a decrease was noted in HOMA-B and serum levels of insulin and resistin, together with an increase in HOMA-S in patients with SLE. The SLE disease activity index （SLEDAI） of patients was significantly correlated with HOMA-S （r = -0.48, P < 0.01）, HOMA-B （r = 0.29, P < 0.05） and serum resistin levels （r = 0.42, P < 0.01）, and a negative correlation was also observed between HOMA-S and serum resistin levels in patients with SLE （r = -0.56, P < 0.01）. Conclusions There is evidence of insulin resistance and increased secretory capacity of pancreatic beta cells, which are related to SLE disease activity and serum resistin levels. After corticosteroid therapy, the abnormality in these parameters was improved.

Key words: systemic lupus erythematosus