Annelies B Blanken1, Rabia Agca2, Alper M van Sijl2, Alexandre E Voskuyl3, Ronald Boellaard4, Yvo M Smulders5, Conny J van der Laken3, Michael T Nurmohamed2. 1. Amsterdam Rheumatology and immunology Center, location Reade, Department of Rheumatology, Dr. Jan van Breemstraat 2, PO box 58271, 1040 HG Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Rheumatology and immunology Center, location Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: a.blanken@reade.nl. 2. Amsterdam Rheumatology and immunology Center, location Reade, Department of Rheumatology, Dr. Jan van Breemstraat 2, PO box 58271, 1040 HG Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Rheumatology and immunology Center, location Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 3. Amsterdam Rheumatology and immunology Center, location Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 4. Amsterdam UMC, location VU University Medical Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 5. Amsterdam UMC, location VU University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), partly due to an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, but also due to chronic systemic inflammation inducing atherosclerotic changes of the arterial wall. The aim of this study was to determine whether anti-inflammatory therapy for the treatment of RA has favorable effects on arterial wall inflammation in RA patients. METHODS: Arterial wall inflammation before and after 6 months of anti-inflammatory treatment was assessed in 49 early and established RA patients using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT). Arterial 18F-FDG uptake was quantified as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, carotid, iliac and femoral arteries. Early RA patients (n = 26) were treated with conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs with or without corticosteroids, whereas established RA patients (n = 23) were treated with adalimumab. RESULTS: In RA patients, overall SUVmax was over time reduced by 4% (difference -0.06, 95%CI -0.12 to -0.01, p = 0.02), with largest reductions in carotid (-8%, p = 0.001) and femoral arteries (-7%, p = 0.005). There was no difference in arterial wall inflammation change between early and established RA patients (SUVmax difference 0.003, 95%CI -0.11 to 0.12, p = 0.95). Change in arterial wall inflammation significantly correlated with change in serological inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein). CONCLUSION: Arterial wall inflammation in RA patients is reduced by anti-inflammatory treatment and this reduction correlates with reductions of serological inflammatory markers. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory treatment of RA has favorable effects on the risk of cardiovascular events in RA patients.
BACKGROUND:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), partly due to an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, but also due to chronic systemic inflammation inducing atherosclerotic changes of the arterial wall. The aim of this study was to determine whether anti-inflammatory therapy for the treatment of RA has favorable effects on arterial wall inflammation in RApatients. METHODS: Arterial wall inflammation before and after 6 months of anti-inflammatory treatment was assessed in 49 early and established RApatients using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT). Arterial 18F-FDG uptake was quantified as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, carotid, iliac and femoral arteries. Early RApatients (n = 26) were treated with conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs with or without corticosteroids, whereas established RApatients (n = 23) were treated with adalimumab. RESULTS: In RApatients, overall SUVmax was over time reduced by 4% (difference -0.06, 95%CI -0.12 to -0.01, p = 0.02), with largest reductions in carotid (-8%, p = 0.001) and femoral arteries (-7%, p = 0.005). There was no difference in arterial wall inflammation change between early and established RApatients (SUVmax difference 0.003, 95%CI -0.11 to 0.12, p = 0.95). Change in arterial wall inflammation significantly correlated with change in serological inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein). CONCLUSION: Arterial wall inflammation in RApatients is reduced by anti-inflammatory treatment and this reduction correlates with reductions of serological inflammatory markers. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory treatment of RA has favorable effects on the risk of cardiovascular events in RApatients.
Authors: Annelies B Blanken; Reinder Raadsen; Rabia Agca; Alper M van Sijl; Yvo M Smulders; Michael T Nurmohamed Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2022-10-21 Impact factor: 3.580
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