title: Potential effect of anti-inflammatory treatment on reducing the cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory polyarthritis with increased mortality largely attributable to cardiovascular disease. There is extensive evidence that patients with RA experience accelerated atherosclerosis, which is considered as the main responsible of this increased cardiovascular burden. Nowadays atherosclerosis is regarded as an inflammatory condition: hence, the cumulative inflammation of RA, with the abundant synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, contributes directly to the early formation of the atheromatic plaque. It is therefore reasonable to postulate that, by alleviating inflammation, drugs commonly used in RA treatment may ameliorate the cardiovascular profile of these patients. Here we provide an extensive review of the literature, focusing on the effects of the available anti-rheumatic agents on cardiovascular mortality, and morbidity among RA sufferers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Istituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chighizola
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schioppo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ingegnoli
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines