title: Is small artery elasticity decreased prior to intima-media thickening in patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine small artery elasticity (SAE) in patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in comparison to healthy controls, and to investigate its relation to markers of endothelial cell activation, disease activity, joint damage, and the presence of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with RA and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and disease-related factors were recorded. SAE was measured noninvasively by pulse-wave analysis (PWA). Endothelial activation was assessed by measuring levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis, was assessed using ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with RA had higher body mass index, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels and were more often cigarette smokers compared to controls. SAE was decreased in RA patients compared to controls and was inversely related with age, smoking, blood pressure, vWF, sVCAM-1, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and IMT. Presence of RA was independently related to SAE in multivariate linear regression analysis. SAE was inversely related with the Health Assessment Questionnaire score. No correlation was found between SAE and other disease activity markers and damage. IMT in patients and controls was not different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small artery elasticity was decreased in patients with longstanding RA. The presence of RA was independently associated with SAE. Whereas IMT in patients with RA was not increased, we hypothesize that endothelial dysfunction, reflected by decreased SAE, is present prior to IMT thickening in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Helmy J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hinkema
authors.forename: Hans L A
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Nienhuis
authors.forename: Lodewijk
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Andries J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Arie M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Roon
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bijl
authors.forename: Marcel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Posthumus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004548:Elasticity; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged