Intima-media thickness of common carotid as cardiovascular risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis and metabolic disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To study the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery and the lipid profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), type 1 diabetes mellitus T1DM), and obesity (Ob), against a control group of normal subjects (NS), in order to determine the relationship between cardiovascular risks and pro-atherosclerosis conditions in various inflammatory and metabolic disorders.


METHODS
147 subjects, with written consent, were divided into the following categories: 38 patients with RA (6m/32f; average age 51.7+/-4.4 years, range 42-71); 42 patients with T1DM (20m/22f; average age 52.1+/-6.2 years, range 45-65); 37 patients with obesity (20m/17f; average age 53.8+/-5.3 years, range 46-70); 30 normal subjects, age and sex matched, that make up the control group (14m/16f; average age 52.5+/-4.6, range 40-62). The IMT and the plaques were measured (values expressed in mm) according to the guidelines of the GIUV (Gruppo Italiano Ultrasonologia Vascolare, Italian Group of Vascular Ultrasonology).


RESULTS
Our research has revealed the presence of a thickening of the intima-media complex in patients suffering from RA, highlighting, at the same time, that the atherosclerotic risk factor in these patients manifested regardless of the activity of the disease or the serum level.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of an inflammatory systemic chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, seems to constitute a significant and independent atherosclerosis risk in itself, which apparently does not correlate with the lipid profile.
Coaccioli
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Perugia University, 06100 Perugia. scoaccioli@tin.it
Capitò
G
G
Valentini
M
M
Pinoca
F
F
Landucci
P
P
Fatati
G
G
Puxeddu
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human