title: [Recent views on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is the commonest cause of premature mortality in rheumatoid arthritis and several data have shown that rheumatoid arthritis is an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic disease. In last years it has become evident that atherosclerosis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder sharing a number of pathogenic features with rheumatoid arthritis. It is conceivable, therefore, that chronically raised concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and pathological immune response characterizing rheumatoid arthritis may play a key role in inducing acceleration of atherosclerotic processes and, consequently, in the development of cardiovascular disease in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Medicina Interna e Scienze Oncologiche, Centro per lo Studio delle Malattie Reumatiche, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi, Perugia.
authors.forename: Elena Bartoloni
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delle Monache
authors.forename: Monica Cesarotti Claudio
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angrisani
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerli
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans