Secondary osteoporosis is a frequent complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the result of an imbalance of catabolic and anabolic mechanisms of bone metabolism. The effects of serial low-dose radon and hyperthermia (LDRnHT) exposure in a therapeutic adit (12 applications in 3 weeks) on the serum levels of the cytokines osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF kappa-B ligand (RANKL), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and also on the RANKL/OPG ratio were investigated in 25 RA patients and an age-matched control of 24 patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Cytokine measurements were performed at baseline and after completion of LDRnHT. Anti-CCP antibodies (ACPA) were measured in RA patients in parallel. Medication in both groups was limited to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and low-dose prednisolone (16 of 24 RA patients) as needed. RA and OA patients showed a significant decrease of TNF-α levels (p < 0.001). Both groups showed significantly decreased levels of RANKL (RA: p < 0.001, OA: p < 0.01). Only the RA patients presented a significant increase of OPG (p < 0.01) and decrease of the RANKL/OPG ratio (p < 0.01), and the ACPA levels (p < 0.001). LDRnHT results in a reduction of osteocatabolic and an increase of osteoanabolic cytokines, which represents the molecular basis for inhibiting osteoclastic activity in secondary osteoporosis and explains in part the effect of LDRnHT this physical therapy modality in a key inflammatory disease. Although reduced ACPA levels were observed under the therapy and although this could potentially contribute to an osteoprotective effect, in this case, it is rather uncertain as the reduction was only minor in magnitude.
Keywords: Anti-CCP antibodies (ACPA); Osteoprotegerin; Receptor activator of NF kappa-B ligand; Rheumatoid arthritis; Serial radon (adit) therapy; TNF-α.