The Heart in the Crosshairs of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Spectrum of Cardiovascular Complications

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects not only joints, but also internal organs. Special attention is paid to cardiovascular and pulmonary complications, which significantly worsen the prognosis and quality of life of patients. Cardiovascular pathologies such as atherosclerosis, myocarditis, and pericarditis are the leading causes of increased mortality in RA. In turn, pulmonary complications include interstitial lung diseases, pleurisy and fibrosis, which also significantly complicates the course of the disease. This article discusses the mechanisms of development, clinical manifestations, and modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of these complications.