title: Relationship between endothelial dysfunction and osteoprotegerin, vitamin D, and bone mineral density in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate whether the abnormalities in bone mineral density (BMD) that occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with the presence of endothelial dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study encompassing 216 subjects (111 patients with RA and 105 age- and sex-matched controls) without history of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial function was determined by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and BMD by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements. Plasma vitamin D and osteoprotegerin serum (OPG) levels were assessed in patients and controls. Multiple regression analysis was performed to study the relationship between BMD with endothelial function, taking into account vitamin D and OPG levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, vitamin D and OPG levels, BMD emerged as an independent factor associated with lower FMD values in controls, but not in patients with RA. Although OPG levels were inversely associated with FMD values in both RA patients and controls after adjusting for BMD, vitamin D showed this relationship only in the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst OPG is associated with endothelial function in RA patients and controls, vitamin D levels and BMD are related to endothelial function in controls but not in patients with RA.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Esmerald
authors: E
authors: Delgado-Frías
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: López-Mejias
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Genre
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.
authors: Begoña
authors: B
authors: Ubilla
authors: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: María A
authors: MA
authors: Gómez Rodríguez-Bethencourt
authors: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Antonieta
authors: A
authors: González-Díaz
authors: Central Laboratory Division, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Antonia M
authors: AM
authors: de Vera-González
authors: Central Laboratory Division, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Agustín F
authors: AF
authors: González-Rivero
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife; and Department of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Díaz-González
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain; and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Miguel A
authors: MA
authors: González-Gay
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Ferraz-Amaro
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014664:Vasodilation; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D014807:Vitamin D