title: Are the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies independent predictors of myocardial involvement in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The anti-CCP antibodies are specific serological markers of RA, especially the aggressive course of joint disease. It has been postulated that the chronic inflammatory state is underlain by cardiovascular (CV) disease and that a higher level of anti-CCP antibodies is implicated in CV risk. The aim of the study was to assess: (i) the possible impact of anti-CCP antibodies on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction; and (ii) the possible differences in the effects of DASs on diastolic dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 80 RA patients (70 females and 10 males) with no clinically evident CV disease, or concomitant diseases, and 80 matched healthy controls. Upon clinical and laboratory evaluation, all subjects underwent M-mode, two-dimensional and colour Doppler echocardiographic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) prolongation as the first sign of diastolic dysfunction was present in 36.25% of RA patients and in 15% of control subjects. IVRT was found to correlate with anti-CCP antibody titre (r = 0.382, P = 0.002) and modified DAS including CRP [DAS-28-CRP(4v)] (r = 0.204, P = 0.039). On multivariate linear regression analysis, anti-CCP antibody titre showed significant correlation with IVRT, while the ratio of early and late transmitral wave (E/A ratio) independently correlated with age and DAS-28-CRP(4v).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-CCP antibody is an important marker, independently associated with impaired left ventricular relaxation and the DAS-28-CRP(4v) is a more sensitive predictor of cardiac involvement in the RA than the DAS-28 variant including the ESR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia. daniela.marasovic.krstulovic@st.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marasovic-Krstulovic
authors.forename: Dusanka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinovic-Kaliterna
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabijanic
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morovic-Vergles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide