title: [Rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by symmetric, erosive and chronic synovitis, especially of minor joints. It is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and with high mortality. This occurs because of an accelerated atherogenic process, explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypercholesterolemia, age, diabetes mellitus and systemic arterial hypertension. High levels of hemosedimentation velocity and C-reactive protein are directly correlated with increased cardiovascular events. Pro-inflammatory cytokines contribute with endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, prothrombotic effects and oxidative stress that are at the basis of the atherogenic process. Recent information about atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis allows for identification of the risk factors involved in atherosclerosis that can be best controlled. This could result in a reduced manifestation of the process and its cutback, with consequent decrease of mortality and morbidity related to rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. claiton.brenol@gmail.com
authors.forename: Claiton Viegas
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Brenol
authors.forename: Odirlei André
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Monticielo
authors.forename: Ricardo Machado
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: João Carlos Tavares
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brenol
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors