From ACR:

Background: Increased rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity has
been correlated with increased patient psychological distress and
blood inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin(IL)-6. We have
previously shown significant reductions in RA disease activity and
psychological distress following participation in a mindfulness
meditation training program (ACR/ARHP abstract #1968).
Purpose: Here we evaluate impact on peripheral blood inflammatory
markers in the same randomized, controlled pilot study.
Methods: RA patients were randomized to meditation training called
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or waitlist control. The
intervention consisted of two-month MBSR course, followed by a
maintenance program comprising three classes over four months. All
participants were assessed at baseline (BL), two months (2M) and six
months (6M) for RA disease activity using the Disease Activity
Score-28 (DAS28) and for psychological outcomes. Blood samples from
each visit were analyzed for ESR by Seditainer assay (Becton
Dickinson) and CRP and IL-6 by two-antibody ELISA. Correlation between
baseline inflammatory markers and DAS28 was assessed. The effect of
the intervention was estimated by repeated measures mixed model with
change in inflammatory marker as the dependent variable. Mean changes
BL-2M reflect those following the MBSR course, while changes BL-6M
indicate those after the course plus four-month maintenance program.
Results: 63 participants were randomized, 31 MBSR and 32 control.
Blood samples were available for 58 participants at BL, 55 at 2M and
54 at 6M. BL means (SD) in MBSR and control, respectively, for ESR in
mm/hour were 22.8 (21.7) and 22.1 (16.7), for CRP mg/l were 5.7 (5.3)
and 5.2 (4.8), and for IL-6 in pg/dl were 45.0 (84.3) and 24.5 (28.2),
with no significant differences between groups. At baseline, ESR, CRP
and IL-6 were significantly positively correlated. Baseline DAS28 was
significantly positively correlated with ESR and IL-6 but not CRP. At
BL-2M and BL-6M, respectively, ESR was reduced in the MBSR group [mean
change (SE)] -5.0 (2.4) and -7.3 (2.7), while controls had mean
increase 1.3 (1.9) and 2.4 (2.9), with both comparisons significant.
CRP was reduced in the MBSR group more than in controls at 2M
(p=0.20), with little difference at 6M (p=0.60). IL-6 was reduced in
the MBSR group -13.0 (17.8) and increased among controls 10.2 (8.3)
from BL-2M; similarly, IL-6 was decreased in MBSR -12.8 (15.9) and
increased in controls 5.5 (5.7) from BL-6M, although comparisons in
both periods were insignificant (p=0.24 and p=0.28).
Conclusions: In a pilot study, participation in mindfulness meditation
training was associated with significant reduction in ESR compared to
control. Similar trends with IL-6 and CRP were seen but did not reach
statistical significance. Further investigation is warranted.