[Relationship of silent myocardial ischiemia with the course of rheumatoid arthritis and hyperhomocysteinemia].

The aim of this investigation was to study the frequency and duration of silent myocardial ischemnia (SMI) and to evaluate its relationship with the duration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hyperhomocysteinemia. 63 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were observed, during this study we investigated homocysteine blood level, markers of an inflammation and episodes of SMI using daily (cholter) ECG monitoring. It was often recorded "silent" myocardial ischemia in patients with the RA, which was associated with high activity of inflammatory process (high C-reactive protein, the disease activity score, HAQ, number of swollen and painful joints) and hyperhomocysteinemia, whereas disease duration was less important in formation of SMI.