title: Rheumatoid arthritis and the heart.
abstract: The risk of cardiovascular disease is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in patients with RA is largely unknown, evidence to date indicates that it involves complex interactions between the traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors as well as various medications commonly used for the treatment of RA patients. This review provides an overview of the clinical studies that demonstrate increased risk of coronary heart disease and heart failure in patients with RA and also discusses the potential role of the various risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Hilal Maradit
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kremers
authors.forename: Sherine E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gabriel
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors