Key result
Female patients with rheumatoid arthritis had significantly increased maximal common carotid intima-media thickness compared to matched healthy controls (0.764 vs 0.703 mm).
Why the study?
Is rheumatoid arthritis associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in non-diabetic, normotensive females?
Case-Control (n=74)
Is rheumatoid arthritis associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in non-diabetic, normotensive females?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis, even in patients with a favorable traditional cardiovascular risk profile.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
RA associated with increased carotid IMT in low-risk females; supports independent role in subclinical atherosclerosis but leaves clinical implications open.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA and low cardiovascular risk by measuring intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and to determine factors associated with increased IMT. METHODS: IMT was measured by ultrasonography in 42 non-diabetic, normotensive, female RA patients and 32 matched healthy controls [age 45.3 (10.0) vs 45.2 (9.8) years] at common carotid arteries (CCAs), carotid bifurcation (BF) and internal carotid arteries (ICAs), bilaterally. Mean and maximal (max) IMTs were calculated from three measurements at each site. Clinical work-up included laboratory analyses, determination of the disease activity and evaluation of treatment. RESULTS: RA patients had increased IMT (mm) in comparison with controls [CCA(max): 0.764 (0.148) vs 0.703 (0.100); CCA(mean): 0.671 (0.119) vs 0.621 (0.085); BF(max): 1.055 (0.184) vs 0.941 (0.161); BF(mean): 0.889 (0.168) vs 0.804 (0.124); ICA(max): 0.683 (0.108) vs 0.613 (0.093); ICA(mean): 0.577 (0.101) vs 0.535 (0.076)]. Parameters associated with IMT in RA patients were (correlation at x/6 measurement sites): age (6/6), BMI (2/6), smoking (2/6), RF concentration (2/6), sedimentation rate (1/6) and duration of MTX + chloroquine therapy (4/6; inverse correlation). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that RA is an independent risk factor for increased IMT. Factors correlating with IMT in the controls were: age (6/6), BMI (3/6), total cholesterol (5/6), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3/6), total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2/6), triglycerides (1/6) and glycaemia (4/6). CONCLUSION: Despite a favourable risk profile, our female RA patients had significantly enlarged carotid IMT than controls. RA itself was an independent risk factor for increased IMT. Impact of chronic inflammation on atherosclerosis was confirmed by negative correlation of IMT and duration of anti-inflammatory treatment.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ristić et al. (2010) conducted a case-control in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=74). Rheumatoid arthritis vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Maximal common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA max). Female patients with rheumatoid arthritis had significantly increased maximal common carotid intima-media thickness compared to matched healthy controls (0.764 vs 0.703 mm).
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: