title: Relationship of osteoprotegerin to pulse wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is considered an important biomarker in cardiovascular (CV) disease. CV disease is the most common cause of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a consequence of accelerated atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum OPG levels to arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and clinical and laboratory indices in RA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included in the study were 68 RA patients with no history or signs of CV disease and 48 healthy subjects Disease activity was assessed by the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) in RA patients. Serum OPG level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of arterial stiffness and CIMT was evaluated by carotid ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum OPG level was significantly higher in RA patients than controls (p < 0.001). Mean PWV and CIMT were also significantly increased in RA patients compared to controls (both p < 0.001). In RA patients, serum OPG level was significantly correlated with PWV and CIMT, as well as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody; but not with DAS28, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), or erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum OPG levels were increased and correlated with CIMT and PWV in RA patients. In addition to PWV and CIMT, OPG may be a useful biomarker for CV risk management in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, 53100, Rize, Turkey. drmunser@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Beyazal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, 53100, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devrimsel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, 53100, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Türkyılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cüre
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyazal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular diseases; Inflammation; Risk factors; Ultrasonography