Key result
Seronegative RA links to higher epicardial fat and worse aortic elasticity than seropositive RA.
Why the study?
Although the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue thickness, aortic elasticity parameters, and rheumatoid arthritis has been documented, differences in these parameters between seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis remained underexplored.
Do epicardial adipose tissue thickness and aortic elasticity parameters differ between patients with seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls?
Observational (n=123)
Do epicardial adipose tissue thickness and aortic elasticity parameters differ between patients with seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls?
Patients with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis exhibit greater epicardial adipose tissue thickness and increased aortic stiffness compared to seropositive patients, indicating a more adverse subclinical cardiometabolic phenotype despite the absence of overt cardiovascular disease.
May indicate higher subclinical CV risk in seronegative RA; leaves open causality and requires prospective validation.
Background/aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease associated with both joint pathology and elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and aortic elasticity parameters are emerging cardiometabolic markers associated with systemic inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis. Although the relationship between EATT, aortic elasticity parameters, and RA has been increasingly documented, differences in these parameters between seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis remain underexplored. Materials and methods: Of the 396 consecutive patients with RA, only those free of established cardiovascular disease and uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors were included. As a result, 80 patients with RA and 43 healthy controls were included in this study. Aortic elasticity parameters and EATT were measured using M-mode and two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Based on rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibody status, patients were classified into seronegative and seropositive subgroups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.8 ± 10.5 years. Aortic strain and aortic distensibility were significantly lower, whereas EATT was significantly higher, in patients with RA than in healthy controls. In subgroup analysis, seronegative RA patients had lower aortic strain and aortic distensibility and higher EATT than seropositive RA patients. Moreover, EATT was not significantly correlated with either aortic strain or aortic distensibility in patients with seronegative RA (r = 0.038, p = 0.817; r = 0.187, p = 0.247) or seropositive RA (r = 0.053, p = 0.747; r = 0.073, p = 0.659). Conclusion: Seronegative RA patients exhibited greater EATT and lower aortic strain and aortic distensibility, suggesting increased aortic stiffness and a more adverse subclinical cardiometabolic phenotype.
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Aslan et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Rheumatoid arthritis (seronegative and seropositive) (n=123). Seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis vs. Healthy controls and seropositive vs. seronegative RA subgroups was evaluated on Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and aortic elasticity parameters (aortic strain and aortic distensibility). Seronegative RA had higher EATT and lower aortic strain and distensibility than seropositive RA, with no EATT-strain correlation (r=0.038, p=0.817).
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