title: Cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: RA can manifest in a variety of cardiac complications, including pericarditis, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, and amyloidosis. Subclinical involvement is higher than anticipated. CVD is also prevalent in patients with RA, with onset in early disease. Several disease-specific risk factors, like seropositivity, disease activity, and medications, are implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD in RA. Cardiovascular risk assessment in RA varies from the general population. Some traditional risk factors like BMI and lipid levels apply differently to the RA population. Statins are useful in managing dyslipidemia in RA. There is good evidence to support cardiovascular risk reduction with methotrexate and TNF-I use if good disease control is achieved.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Campus Box 8045, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: dsen@dom.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Deepali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Mayda
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brasington
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Inflammation; Management; Rheumatoid arthritis