title: Relations between autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein, inflammation, subclinical atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an unexplained increased cardiovascular risk. Autoantibodies recognizing oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL-ab) are associated with atherosclerosis in the general population and have been reported in several autoimmune diseases. We investigated relations between oxLDL-ab, inflammation, subclinical atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a nested case-control study, serum concentrations of oxLDL-ab were measured in 140 RA patients. Ultrasound examination of the carotid artery [i.e., carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)] was performed in a third of these patients. Correlations were calculated for oxLDL-ab, C-reactive protein (CRP), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Regression analyses were used to examine associations between oxLDL-ab and prevalent CVD, and oxLDL-ab and CIMT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OxLDL-ab were positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.33, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.28, p = 0.001). An indication for interaction was found (p = 0.09), suggesting that inflammation modifies the relation between HDL cholesterol and oxLDL-ab. OxLDL-ab were independently associated with intimal thickening, but not associated with prevalent CVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OxLDL-ab were strongly related with the degree of inflammation and may predispose to a higher risk for CVD, as they were independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mike J L
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Vokko P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: van Halm
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nurmohamed
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damoiseaux
authors.forename: Jan Willem Cohen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tervaert
authors.forename: Jos W R
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Twisk
authors.forename: Ben A C
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dijkmans
authors.forename: Alexandre E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Voskuyl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein