Key result
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had worse endothelial function (FMD -96.6-6.6% vs 20-25%) and greater carotid intima media thickness (0.50-0.72 mm vs 0.35-0.47 mm) compared to healthy controls.
Why the study?
Do patients with rheumatoid arthritis have worse endothelial function and subclinical atherosclerosis compared to healthy controls?
Case-Control (n=46)
Do patients with rheumatoid arthritis have worse endothelial function and subclinical atherosclerosis compared to healthy controls?
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis exhibit signs of endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis, supporting the use of carotid ultrasound and FMD for cardiovascular risk assessment in this population.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
RA was associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid intima-media thickness; leaves open whether FMD or ultrasound refines cardiovascular risk assessment.
The present study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by means of assessment of carotid intima media thickness and endothelium dependent function through assessment of brachial artery flow mediated dilatation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty six patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 20 healthy control subjects underwent measurement of brachial artery FMD and CIMT using B-mode gray scale US for evaluating cardiovascular risk. The brachial artery FMD was –96.6–6.6% in rheumatoid arthritis (indicating ED), and 20–25% in the control group. The CIMT was 0.50–0.72 mm in rheumatoid arthritis and 0.35–0.47 mm in the control group. The results from the present study support the use of carotid US and endothelial function assessment by means of FMD as a useful tool to predict the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest that the carotid artery US should be performed for all patients with rheumatoid arthritis to establish the risk of cardiovascular complication which requires more aggressive therapy.
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AbdelMaboud et al. (2013) conducted a case-control in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=46). Rheumatoid arthritis vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Brachial artery flow mediated dilatation and carotid intima media thickness. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had worse endothelial function (FMD -96.6-6.6% vs 20-25%) and greater carotid intima media thickness (0.50-0.72 mm vs 0.35-0.47 mm) compared to healthy controls.
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