title: Changes in arterial stiffness during continued infliximab treatment in patients with inflammatory arthropathies.
abstract: Chronic inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. TNF-α antagonists may improve vascular function in these patients and thus be beneficial with regard to cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated arterial stiffness and disease activity between two infusions with a TNF-α antagonist (infliximab) in patients with inflammatory arthropathies on long-term infliximab therapy. Augmentation index (AIx), aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), and disease activity were measured in 17 patients with RA, AS, or PsA who had been treated with infliximab for at least 12 months. The patients were examined immediately before their infliximab infusion and thereafter every 10th day until their next infusion scheduled at week 4-8. AIx and aPWV did not change during the period between two infliximab infusions. The patients had a temporary improvement in the general disease activity assessed on visual analogue scales by the patients (P = 0.04) and the investigator (P = 0.02) after the infusion. In the group of patients with RA, the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) changed significantly in a similar manner (P = 0.003). C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate remained unchanged. Infliximab infusions did not alter aortic pulse wave velocity or augmentation index in patients with inflammatory arthropathies who were on long-term infliximab therapy. Reductions in the general disease activity and DAS28 were not reflected in alterations of aortic stiffness or augmentation index.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Aker, 0514 Oslo, Norway. kristin.angel@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Sella Aarrestad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Provan
authors.forename: Hilde Berner
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mowinckel
authors.forename: Tore Kristian
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kvien
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001799:Blood Sedimentation / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069285:Infliximab