title: [Determining cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: waiting for trial outcomes is not recommended].
abstract: Cardiovascular risk management is clearly indicated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) today because this risk is comparable to patients with diabetes. Although formal evidence of cardiovascular endpoint trials with statins and/or antihypertensives is lacking in patients with RA, there are no indications that these drugs will have limited effect. In contrast, there is accumulating evidence as to the efficacy of the use of these drugs in RA that is at least comparable to their effects in the general population. All patients with RA should therefore receive cardiovascular risk-management therapy aimed at powerful suppression of the chronic inflammatory process as well as treatment with statins and/or antihypertensives, if indicated. Obviously, monitoring in the clinical setting is necessary to document if such therapy does indeed reduce cardiovascular disease in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: VU medisch centrum, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. mt.nurmohamed@planet.nl
authors.forename: Mike T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nurmohamed
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors