OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested increased cardiovascular disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this study to obtain morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. METHODS: We used high-resolution B-mode ultrasound to compare carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) between 53 postmenopausal women with RA and 53 controls matched by age, sex, and menopause status. No subject in either group had a history of atherosclerosis or its complications. We investigated the association between IMT and relevant clinical and therapeutic variables, including the impact of low-dose corticosteroid therapy (< or = 10 mg/day prednisolone). RESULTS: The mean +/- SD IMT of the left and right common carotid arteries in RA patients was significantly greater than that in controls (0.77 +/- 0.09 mm versus 0.68 +/- 0.14 mm; P < 0.001). Early RA (duration < or = 1 year) was associated with lesser IMT than was RA of longer duration (0.72 +/- 0.03 mm versus 0.78 +/- 0.01 mm; P < 0.04). Prednisolone use was not associated with increased IMT (0.78 +/- 0.02 mm in nonusers versus 0.76 +/- 0.01 mm in users; P = 0.38). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that RA patients have an ultrasonic marker of early atherosclerosis consistent with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested increased cardiovascular disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this study to obtain morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RApatients. METHODS: We used high-resolution B-mode ultrasound to compare carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) between 53 postmenopausal women with RA and 53 controls matched by age, sex, and menopause status. No subject in either group had a history of atherosclerosis or its complications. We investigated the association between IMT and relevant clinical and therapeutic variables, including the impact of low-dose corticosteroid therapy (< or = 10 mg/day prednisolone). RESULTS: The mean +/- SD IMT of the left and right common carotid arteries in RApatients was significantly greater than that in controls (0.77 +/- 0.09 mm versus 0.68 +/- 0.14 mm; P < 0.001). Early RA (duration < or = 1 year) was associated with lesser IMT than was RA of longer duration (0.72 +/- 0.03 mm versus 0.78 +/- 0.01 mm; P < 0.04). Prednisolone use was not associated with increased IMT (0.78 +/- 0.02 mm in nonusers versus 0.76 +/- 0.01 mm in users; P = 0.38). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that RApatients have an ultrasonic marker of early atherosclerosis consistent with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.
Authors: K M J Douglas; A V Pace; G J Treharne; A Saratzis; P Nightingale; N Erb; M J Banks; G D Kitas Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2005-08-03 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Calin Popa; Frank H J van den Hoogen; Timothy R D J Radstake; Mihai G Netea; Agnes E Eijsbouts; Martin den Heijer; Jos W M van der Meer; Piet L C M van Riel; Anton F H Stalenhoef; Pilar Barrera Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2007-05-01 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Valentina O Puntmann; Peter C Taylor; Andrew Barr; Bernhard Schnackenburg; Cosima Jahnke; Ingo Paetsch Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2009-12-21 Impact factor: 7.580
Authors: M Wong; S P Oakley; L Young; B Y Jiang; A Wierzbicki; G Panayi; P Chowienczyk; B Kirkham Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2008-10-17 Impact factor: 19.103