OBJECTIVE: The excess cardiac risk, found in RA has been attributed to biological inflammation. Effective control of inflammation may be of benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in RA patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of 24 and 52 weeks of rituximab treatment on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Arterial stiffness was measured by augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), and other cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, blood pressure) were collected in active RA patients. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients, of whom 29 were females, with a mean age of 60.9 (12.0) years were included. Thirty patients had positive RFs, 27 had positive anti-CCP antibody and 93.9% (n = 31) were erosive. Nineteen patients were non-responders to anti-TNF-α treatments. After rituximab treatment, no change was observed in arterial stiffness, neither after 6 nor after 12 months [PWV 8.1 (3.1) m/s at baseline, 8.1 (2.8) at 6 months, 8.0 (2.7) at 1 year, P = 0.924; and AIx 30.4 (8.2)% at baseline, 28.6 (7.6) at 6 months, 29.4 (6.7) at 1 year, P = 0.216]. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly but high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride levels were unchanged. The atherogenic index (total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol) was increased, but not to a level of significance. No change was found in other cardiovascular risk factors. DAS-28 according to levels of ESR and CRP and biologic inflammation were significantly improved. CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness did not improve after 6 and 12 months of rituximab therapy. The treatment had a beneficial effect on biologic inflammation and disease activity, but caused a pro-atherogenic lipid profile.
OBJECTIVE: The excess cardiac risk, found in RA has been attributed to biological inflammation. Effective control of inflammation may be of benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in RApatients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of 24 and 52 weeks of rituximab treatment on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Arterial stiffness was measured by augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), and other cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, blood pressure) were collected in active RApatients. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients, of whom 29 were females, with a mean age of 60.9 (12.0) years were included. Thirty patients had positive RFs, 27 had positive anti-CCP antibody and 93.9% (n = 31) were erosive. Nineteen patients were non-responders to anti-TNF-α treatments. After rituximab treatment, no change was observed in arterial stiffness, neither after 6 nor after 12 months [PWV 8.1 (3.1) m/s at baseline, 8.1 (2.8) at 6 months, 8.0 (2.7) at 1 year, P = 0.924; and AIx 30.4 (8.2)% at baseline, 28.6 (7.6) at 6 months, 29.4 (6.7) at 1 year, P = 0.216]. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly but high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride levels were unchanged. The atherogenic index (total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol) was increased, but not to a level of significance. No change was found in other cardiovascular risk factors. DAS-28 according to levels of ESR and CRP and biologic inflammation were significantly improved. CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness did not improve after 6 and 12 months of rituximab therapy. The treatment had a beneficial effect on biologic inflammation and disease activity, but caused a pro-atherogenic lipid profile.
Authors: Chun Li; X R Wang; H J Ji; X Y Zhang; X F Li; L Z Wang; C H Wang; Y F Wang; Rong Yang; G C Wang; Xin Lu; Ping Zhu; L N Chen; H T Jin; J T Liu; X Y Liu; Lin Sun; H Y Chen; Ping Wei; J X Wang; L F Cui; Rong Shu; B L Liu; Z L Zhang; G T Li; Z B Li; Jing Yang; J F Li; Bin Jia; F X Zhang; J M Tao; S L Han; J Y Lin; M Q Wei; X M Liu; Dan Ke; S X Hu; Cong Ye; X Y Yang; Hao Li; C B Huang; Ming Gao; Bei Lai; X F Li; L J Song; Yi Wang; X Y Wang; Y D Tang; Yin Su; Rong Mu; Z G Li Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2017-03-24 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Edit Végh; György Kerekes; Anita Pusztai; Attila Hamar; Szilvia Szamosi; Andrea Váncsa; Levente Bodoki; Lilla Pogácsás; Fruzsina Balázs; Katalin Hodosi; Andrea Domján; Sándor Szántó; Zoltán Nagy; Zoltán Szekanecz; Gabriella Szűcs Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2019-12-17 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Fabiola Atzeni; Javier Rodríguez-Carrio; Călin D Popa; Michael T Nurmohamed; Gabriella Szűcs; Zoltán Szekanecz Journal: Nat Rev Rheumatol Date: 2021-04-08 Impact factor: 20.543