Systemic inflammation and classical risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular mortality.
This review highlights the critical role of systemic inflammation and classical risk factors in driving accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associates with increased cardiovascular mortality. This appears to be predominantly due to ischaemic causes, such as myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. The higher prevalence of cardiac ischaemia in RA is thought to be due to the accelerated development of atherosclerosis. There are two main reasons for this, which might be inter-related: the systemic inflammatory load, characteristic of RA; and the accumulation in RA of classical risk factors for coronary heart disease, which is reminiscent of the metabolic syndrome. We describe and discuss in the context of RA the involvement of local and systemic inflammatory processes in the development and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, as well as the role of individual risk factors for coronary heart disease. We also present the challenges facing the clinical and scientific communities addressing this problem, which is receiving increasing attention.
Stevens et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Rheumatoid arthritis. Systemic inflammation was evaluated. Systemic inflammation and classical risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular mortality.