title: Ambulatory arterial stiffness index and carotid intima-media thickness in hypertensive rheumatoid patients: a comparative cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. However, little is known about preclinical atherosclerosis in hypertensive rheumatoid arthritis patients. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the expression of preclinical atherosclerosis in hypertensive rheumatoid arthritis patients in comparison with matched hypertensive non-rheumatoid arthritis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 52 hypertensive rheumatoid arthritis patients and 42 hypertensive non-rheumatoid arthritis patients. The patients were extensively examined clinically and laboratory tested. The expression of preclinical atherosclerosis was estimated by assessing ambulatory arterial stiffness index and common carotid intima-media thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arterial stiffness index and common carotid intima-media thickness were higher in hypertensive rheumatoid arthritis patients than in hypertensive non-rheumatoid arthritis patients. There was no correlation between arterial stiffness index and common carotid intima-media thickness with markers of inflammation and disease activity in hypertensive rheumatoid arthritis patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of subclinical atherosclerosis is more pronounced in hypertensive rheumatoid arthritis than in hypertensive non- rheumatoid arthritis patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Joško
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitrović
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morović-Vergles
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Horvatić
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badžak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maristela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stojić
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Stjepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gamulin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: arterial hypertension; arterial stiffness; atherosclerosis; carotid intima-media thickness; rheumatoid arthritis