Rheumatoid arthritis is an independent risk factor for increased carotid intima-media thickness: impact of anti-inflammatory treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA and low cardiovascular risk by measuring intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and to determine factors associated with increased IMT.


METHODS
IMT was measured by ultrasonography in 42 non-diabetic, normotensive, female RA patients and 32 matched healthy controls [age 45.3 (10.0) vs 45.2 (9.8) years] at common carotid arteries (CCAs), carotid bifurcation (BF) and internal carotid arteries (ICAs), bilaterally. Mean and maximal (max) IMTs were calculated from three measurements at each site. Clinical work-up included laboratory analyses, determination of the disease activity and evaluation of treatment.


RESULTS
RA patients had increased IMT (mm) in comparison with controls [CCA(max): 0.764 (0.148) vs 0.703 (0.100); CCA(mean): 0.671 (0.119) vs 0.621 (0.085); BF(max): 1.055 (0.184) vs 0.941 (0.161); BF(mean): 0.889 (0.168) vs 0.804 (0.124); ICA(max): 0.683 (0.108) vs 0.613 (0.093); ICA(mean): 0.577 (0.101) vs 0.535 (0.076)]. Parameters associated with IMT in RA patients were (correlation at x/6 measurement sites): age (6/6), BMI (2/6), smoking (2/6), RF concentration (2/6), sedimentation rate (1/6) and duration of MTX + chloroquine therapy (4/6; inverse correlation). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that RA is an independent risk factor for increased IMT. Factors correlating with IMT in the controls were: age (6/6), BMI (3/6), total cholesterol (5/6), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3/6), total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2/6), triglycerides (1/6) and glycaemia (4/6).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a favourable risk profile, our female RA patients had significantly enlarged carotid IMT than controls. RA itself was an independent risk factor for increased IMT. Impact of chronic inflammation on atherosclerosis was confirmed by negative correlation of IMT and duration of anti-inflammatory treatment.
Ristić
Gorica G
GG
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Military Medical Academy, Crnotravska 17, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. goricaris@eunet.rs
Lepić
Toplica
T
Glisić
Branislava
B
Stanisavljević
Dejana
D
Vojvodić
Danilo
D
Petronijević
Milan
M
Stefanović
Dusan
D
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008727:Methotrexate