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Accelerated atherosclerosis in pre-menopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was reported. Using B-mode ultrasonography we compared intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque occurrence (indicators of asymptomatic atherosclerosis) in the carotid arteries in 70 pre-menopausal, female RA patients and 40 controls. Correlations with different risk factors were evaluated. The IMT values were higher in RA patients (0.59 mm vs. 0.47 mm, P < 0.0001) and they had more plaques (P = 0.023). In RA patients higher levels of sensitive CRP (P < 0.0001), ICAM (P < 0.0001), VCAM (P < 0.0001), IL-2 (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P = 0.009) and TNF-alfa (P < 0.01) were found. A correlation between IMT and triglycerides (P = 0.018) and a negative correlation between IMT and HDL cholesterol (P = 0.037) were found. With multiple regression analysis the association between IMT and sensitive CRP (P = 0.027) and presence of plaques and apolipoprotein B (P = 0.028) was established. The results indicate that even pre-menopausal, female RA patients had accelerated atherosclerosis. Chronic systemic inflammation may play an important role in atherogenesis.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology Republic of Slovenia (L3-5354-0334-04).

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Correspondence to A. Pahor.

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Pahor, A., Hojs, R., Gorenjak, M. et al. Accelerated atherosclerosis in pre-menopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 27, 119–123 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-006-0176-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-006-0176-6

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