title: The effects of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors, methotrexate, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids on cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: The objective of this systematic literature review was to determine the association between cardiovascular events (CVEs) and antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)/psoriasis (Pso). Systematic searches were performed of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases (1960 to December 2012) and proceedings from major relevant congresses (2010-2012) for controlled studies and randomised trials reporting confirmed CVEs in patients with RA or PsA/Pso treated with antirheumatic drugs. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed on extracted data. Out of 2630 references screened, 34 studies were included: 28 in RA and 6 in PsA/Pso. In RA, a reduced risk of all CVEs was reported with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (relative risk (RR), 0.70; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.90; p=0.005) and methotrexate (RR, 0.72; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.91; p=0.007). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increased the risk of all CVEs (RR, 1.18; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.38; p=0.04), which may have been specifically related to the effects of rofecoxib. Corticosteroids increased the risk of all CVEs (RR, 1.47; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.60; p<0.001). In PsA/Pso, systemic therapy decreased the risk of all CVEs (RR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.91; p=0.003). In RA, tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and methotrexate are associated with a decreased risk of all CVEs while corticosteroids and NSAIDs are associated with an increased risk. Targeting inflammation with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors or methotrexate may have positive cardiovascular effects in RA. In PsA/Pso, limited evidence suggests that systemic therapies are associated with a decrease in all CVE risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roubille
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, St-Luc Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Richer
authors.affiliation: Sacré-Coeur Hospital of Montreal, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Starnino
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Collette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCourt
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Western University of Canada, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.affiliation: Lynde Dermatology, Markham, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.affiliation: Lynde Dermatology, Markham, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lynde
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Western University of Canada, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gulliver
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keeling
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dutz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bessette
authors.affiliation: Innovaderm Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bissonnette
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rheumatic Disease Unit, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and Institut de Rhumatologie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Boulos
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haraoui
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008727:Methotrexate