Accelerated atherogenesis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Primary Sjögren's syndrome independently promotes premature subclinical atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular comorbidities are common in patients with autoimmune diseases. This study investigates the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Correlations with clinical factors such as organ involvement (OI) or disease activity were analysed and oxLDL antibodies (oxLDL ab) were measured as potential biomarkers of vascular damage.

METHODS

Patients with pSS were consecutively included from the rheumatology outpatient clinic. Age- and sex-matched controls were recruited (2:1 ratio). Data collection was performed by a standardised questionnaire and Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the plaque extent and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Propensity score matching included all cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors and corresponding laboratory markers.

RESULTS

Data were available for 299 participants (199 pSS/100 controls), aged 59.4 years (50.6-65.0), 19.1% male. After matching, the pSS cohort had greater cIMT (p<0.001) and plaque extent (OR=1.82; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.95). Subgroup analyses of patients with pSS revealed that OI was associated with increased cIMT (p=0.025) and increased plaque occurrence compared with patients without OI (OR=1.74; 95% CI 1.02 to 3.01). OxLDL ab tended to be lower in patients with plaque (p=0.052). Correlations of higher Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein (oxLDL) ab with EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (p<0.001) and anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A autoantibodies (SSA/Ro antibodies) (p=0.026) were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Subclinical atherosclerosis occurs earlier and more severely in patients with pSS. The difference in cIMT between pSS and controls seems mainly driven by patients with OI, suggesting that this subgroup is particularly at risk. OxLDL ab might protect against atherosclerotic progression in patients with pSS. CVR stratification and preventive medications such as Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors should be discussed and further longitudinal studies are needed.

Accelerated atherosclerosis in Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: case report

Accelerated atherosclerosis has been identified as a complication of multiple autoimmune diseases, among which Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis stands out. We describe the case of a 60-year-old patient with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology, who presented two acute coronary syndromes with only a six-month difference. Rapid progression of coronary involvement was evidenced, along with increased markers of inflammatory response, usual interstitial pneumonia on tomography, and positive anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies (anti-MPO), leading to the diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). In these cases, timely diagnostic suspicion is crucial, as early treatment significantly impacts the course and prognosis of the disease.

Cardiovascular changes in the NZB/W F1 mouse model of lupus nephritis

BACKGROUND

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, have a higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and death. In addition, up to 40%-50% of SLE patients develop lupus nephritis (LN) and chronic kidney disease, which is an additional CV risk factor. Thus, the individual contributions of LN and other SLE-specific factors to CV events are unclear.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the effect of LN on the development of CV changes using the female NZBxNZW F1 (NZB/W) mouse model of lupus-like disease, with female NZW mice as controls. Standard serologic, morphologic, immunohistologic, and molecular analyses were performed. In a separate group of NZB/W mice, systolic blood pressure (BP) was measured during the course of the disease using tail plethysmography.

RESULTS

Our data show marked CV changes in NZB/W mice, i.e., increased heart weight, hypertrophy of the left ventricle (LV) and septum, and increased wall thickness of the intramyocardial arteries and the aorta, which correlated with the progression of renal damage, but not with the age of the mice. In addition, systolic BP was increased in NZB/W mice only when kidney damage progressed and proteinuria was present. Pathway analysis based on gene expression data revealed a significant upregulation of the response to interferon beta in NZB/W mice with moderate kidney injury compared with NZB mice. Furthermore, IFI202b and IL-6 mRNA expression is correlated with CV changes. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated serum urea as a surrogate marker of kidney function and IFI202b expression as an independent predictor for LV wall thickness. In addition, deposition of complement factors CFD and C3c in hearts from NZB/W mice was seen, which correlated with the severity of kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, we postulate that the pathogenesis of CV disease in SLE is affected by renal impairment, i.e., LN, but it can also be partly influenced by lupus-specific cardiac expression of pro-inflammatory factors and complement deposition.

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy for the Evaluation of Peripheral Microangiopathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and refractory autoimmune joint disease that affects multiple organs. Several methods have been applied for the study of microvascular endothelial dysfunction, which is considered an important component of vascular disease in RA. Implementation of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) represents a viable choice, as the skin is an easily accessible window for the non-invasive, real-time assessment of subtle microcirculation abnormalities. Although NVC is routinely used in the rheumatology field, especially for the diagnostic workout of Raynaud’s phenomenon, accumulating evidence suggests a role in the evaluation of systemic vasculopathy associated with autoimmune rheumatic disorders. The current paper aims to provide an overview of NVC as a valuable clinical aid for the assessment of peripheral microcirculation in RA. Previous studies characterizing the capillaroscopic pattern in RA are summarized, along with associations with disease-related characteristics. Most available reports have mainly focused on the descriptions of non-specific morphological alterations that may reflect endothelial injury over the course of the disease. Still, the exact pattern of structural and functional capillaroscopic alterations and their clinical significance in RA remains a subject of ongoing research.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren Syndrome (SS) seems to be associated with a greater “overall risk” of cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular events. Although not conventionally considered a feature of the disease, CV events represent a major burden in SS patients. CV risk is the consequence of a complex combination of multiple factors, including traditional risk factors and disease-related mechanisms. A complex relationships between disease-related features, endothelial dysfunction and traditional risk factor has been suggested. Several drugs are available for treating the systemic manifestations of SS, however they have shown positive effects on different outcomes of the disease, but until today the data on the role of these drugs on CV events are scarse. Given these data, the aim of this review was to evaluate the risk of CV risk in primary SS and the effect of the drugs on this manifestation.

Monitoring and Managing Cardiovascular Risk in Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and it is predominately attributed to the interplay between chronic inflammation and traditional CVD risk factors. CVD has significant impact on the survival of patients with IMIDs as it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite recommendations for monitoring and managing CVD in patients with IMIDs, the individual CVD risk assessment remains problematic as CVD risk calculators for the general population consistently underestimate the risk in patients with IMIDs. Application of new technologies utilizing artificial intelligence techniques have shown promising potential for tailoring predictive medicine to the individual patient, but further validation of their role in clinical decision-making is warranted. In the meantime, individuals with IMIDs should be encouraged to adopt behavioral interventions targeting at modifiable lifestyle CVD risk factors, whereas rheumatologists need to be well aware of the unfavorable effects of antirheumatic medication on various CVD risk factors and outcomes. In the current paper, we aim to provide an overview of current and emerging strategies for mitigating CVD risk in patients with IMIDs, based on a practical approach.

Myeloperoxidase as an important predictor of cardiovascular risk in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease with joint manifestations. In the presence of extra-articular manifestations, the morbidity and severity of the disease increase. Glucocorticoid is used as a treatment and may result in side effects related to cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study including 59 volunteers with rheumatoid arthritis receiving treatment at a hospital of Campos Gerais that aimed to establish the relation between cardiovascular risk, glucocorticoid treatment and myeloperoxidase in these patients. Subjects were divided into two groups: using (n = 39) and without glucocorticoids (n = 20). They underwent clinical evaluation, physical examination and blood samples were taken. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test and Mann-Whitney test. Logistic regression was performed to assess the cardiovascular risk. The significance level was 5% (α = 0.05). Calculations were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science version 21.0.

RESULTS

There has been a significant difference between groups in blood glucose values (p = 0.012), which can be explained by the different percentage of diabetic patients in the groups. When assessing cardiovascular risk using the predictors of glucocorticoid dose, time of glucocorticoid use, myeloperoxidase, and C-reactive protein together, these were responsible for significantly predicting this risk (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

A significant relation between the predictor myeloperoxidase alone was also demonstrated (p = 0.037), it may be an important predictor of cardiovascular risk among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ischemic Heart Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis-Two Conditions, the Same Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most frequent inflammatory rheumatic diseases, having a considerably increased prevalence of mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). RA patients have an augmented risk for ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease. Increased cardiovascular (CV) risk is related to disease activity and chronic inflammation. Traditional risk factors and RA-related characteristics participate in vascular involvement, inducing subclinical changes in coronary microcirculation. RA is considered an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Endothelial dysfunction is a precocious marker of atherosclerosis (ATS). Pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNFα, IL-1, and IL-6) play an important role in synovial inflammation and ATS progression. Therefore, targeting inflammation is essential to controlling RA and preventing CVD. Present guidelines emphasize the importance of disease control, but studies show that RA- treatment has a different influence on CV risk. Based on the excessive risk for CV events in RA, permanent evaluation of CVD in these patients is critical. CVD risk calculators, designed for the general population, do not use RA-related predictive determinants; also, new scores that take into account RA-derived factors have restricted validity, with none of them encompassing imaging modalities or specific biomarkers involved in RA activity.

Disease Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated With Arterial Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is evidence that several inflammatory diseases are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Whether this is true for inflammatory bowel diseases remains controversial. We aimed to assess this risk, corrected for the effects of conventional vascular risk factors and IBD disease activity.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study in British general practice and hospital records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. We extracted the records of subjects with IBD and matched controls from 1997 to 2017. We conducted Cox proportional hazards and self-controlled case series analyses to examine the associations of IBD, disease activity, and hospitalization with the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death in a manner attempting to remove the effect of likely confounders.

RESULTS

We identified 31,175 IBD patients (16,779 UC, 10,721 Crohn's disease, and 3675 unclassifiable cases) and 154,412 matched controls. Five hundred thirty-two myocardial infarctions, 555 strokes, and 469 cardiovascular deaths were observed in IBD cases. Our Cox regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, showed no significant excess of vascular events for IBD patients overall. There was, however, an increased hazard of myocardial infarction in ambulatory patients for acute disease (hazard ratio, 1.83 [1.28-2.62]) and chronic activity (hazard ratio, 1.69 [1.24-2.30]). This effect of disease activity was confirmed in our case series analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Though we have found no evidence of an overall excess of vascular events in IBD patients, our findings of increased risk with more active disease suggest the potential for anti-inflammatory therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk in this patient group.

Triggers of Cardiovascular Diseases in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is higher than that in patients without RA, and it is even higher than that in patients with diabetes. Autoimmune-mediated inflammation is observed in patients with RA, resulting in endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and activation, and vascular migration of white blood cells. Traditionally, RA-associated CVD was assumed to be mediated by disease-related inflammation, resulting in atherosclerosis (AS). However, this concept has been challenged because treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate or proinflammatory cytokine antagonists, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, did not reduce the risk of CVD in patients with RA. Current cardiovascular guidelines recommend screening and treatment of CVD risk factors in patients with RA but without clear biomarkers and treatment goals. There is no scientific basis for establishing therapeutic targets for cardiovascular risk factors in RA. Numerous studies have shown that the mechanism of early cardiac dysfunction in patients with RA may occur prior to AS. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the related mechanisms to prevent early cardiac dysfunction in patients with RA.

Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, and multisystem disease, which, along with the joints, can involve the cardiovascular system. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis itself can lead to atherosclerosis, which is considered one of the major causes by which it can affect the cardiovascular system. In this study, we will assess the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to the general population.

Method

This case-control study was conducted from January 2018 to November 2018. Two-hundred twenty-two (222) patients with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis were included as cases in the study. Two-hundred eleven (211) patients were included in the study as the control group (patients without rheumatoid arthritis). All the data were recorded in a self-structured questionnaire.

Result

Participants with rheumatoid arthritis also showed an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) by an odds ratio of 2.50 (95% CI; 0.77-8.14). There was also an increased risk of cardiovascular death in participants with rheumatoid arthritis by an odds ratio of 1.99 (0.58-6.71).

Conclusion

The study suggests that rheumatoid arthritis along with joint inflammation can also affect the cardiovascular system. Hence, a multidisciplinary team of rheumatologists and cardiologists should manage patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, which will improve morbidity and mortality in such patients.

Disease-specific factors associated with cardiovascular events in patients with Takayasu arteritis

Background

To identify disease-specific factors associated with cardiovascular events in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK).

Methods

Patients with TAK who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of TAK and were followed up between 2006 and 2019 were included. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and TAK disease-specific factors at the index date and incident cardiovascular events during the follow-up were retrospectively assessed. To estimate the risk of cardiovascular events according to TAK disease-specific factors, Cox regression analysis with adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors was performed.

Results

Of the total 207 patients with TAK, cardiovascular events occurred in 41 (19.8%) patients. Compared with patients who did not develop cardiovascular events, patients who developed cardiovascular events were older (38.5 ± 13.4 years vs. 43.6 ± 11.8 years, p = 0.028), more commonly had diabetes mellitus (6.6% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.029), had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (57.3 ± 17.1 mg/dl vs. 51.2 ± 15.7 mg/dl, p = 0.040), more commonly had type V vascular involvement (33.1% vs. 63.4%, p 0.001), and less commonly received methotrexate (65.1% vs. 43.9%, p = 0.013). In Cox regression analysis, type V vascular involvement was significantly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted HR 2.852, 95% CI 1.474–5.518, p = 0.002), whereas the use of methotrexate was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted HR 0.515, 95% CI 0.268–0.993, p = 0.047).

Conclusion

Type V vascular involvement was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, while the use of methotrexate was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular events, in patients with TAK.

Application of Non-invasive Imaging in Inflammatory Disease Conditions to Evaluate Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Traditional risk models, such as the Framingham risk score, fail to capture the increased cardiovascular disease risk seen in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. This review will cover imaging modalities and their emerging applications in assessing subclinical cardiovascular disease for both research and clinical care in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multiple imaging modalities have been studied to assess for subclinical cardiovascular disease via functional/physiologic, inflammatory, and anatomic assessment in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. The use of imaging to evaluate subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases has the potential to capture early sub-clinical atherosclerosis, to improve risk stratification of future cardiovascular events, and to guide effective disease management.

Incidence and effect of insulin resistance on progression of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients of long disease duration

Background

The continued atherosclerotic risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been inadequately explained by conventional factors. Chronic inflammation and endothelial activation seems responsible for developing insulin resistance (IR). The study was aimed to assess the role of inflammation and endothelial activation causing IR in long term RA patients leading to increased atherosclerotic risk.

Methods

Fifty (25 long-duration and 25 short-duration) RA patients and twenty-three healthy controls were recruited excluding potential confounding co-morbidities. Fasting insulin, proinflammatory cytokines, endothelial stress markers and adipokines were quantified by ELISA. Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA)-IR calculated using glucose and insulin values. Atherosclerotic indices were measured using ultrasound.

Results

Lipid profile was comparable among groups. Mean carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) was significantly higher in both RA groups (p = 0.0062) compared to controls. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in long-duration RA (p = 0.005); it showed significant associations with DAS 28 (p = 0.01) and hsCRP (p = 0.03) in this subset. Mean cIMT for short-duration RA (p = 0.02) and long-duration RA (p = 0.0006) respectively was also significantly associated with HOMA-IR. Pro-inflammatory markers like TNF-α, resistin and leptin were highest in long-duration RA, higher in short-duration RA when compared to control group respectively. HOMA-IR was significantly dependent on TNF-α (p = 0.008), resistin (p = 0.031), leptin (p = 0.0054). Mean cIMT showed association with all parameters mainly with TNF-α (p = 0.001), iNOS (p = 0.001), resistin (p = 0.008) and leptin (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Persistent inflammation leads to altered adipokine secretion promoting IR in RA patients with long disease duration. Treatment with conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is incomplete to control chronic inflammation and limit progression of atherosclerosis.

Subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: a pilot study

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate endothelial function in treatment-naïve polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients and its modification during steroid therapy, in relation to changes in clinical and laboratory parameters.Method: This prospective observational study involved patients with a new diagnosis of PMR according to provisional American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2012 criteria, who were naïve to steroid therapy, and control subjects matched for age, gender, and comorbidities. All participants underwent clinical and vascular ultrasound evaluations at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of steroid therapy. For the study of endothelial function, we evaluated the brachial artery reactivity, which has emerged as the most well-established technique used in adults, by assessing flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), which measures the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation.Results: Sixteen newly diagnosed PMR patients were compared with a population of 16 matched controls. FMD values in all subjects showed an inverse correlation with the values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. At baseline, the FMD of PMR patients was significantly lower than controls and remained significantly lower with respect to controls until the sixth month of therapy, despite a clinical improvement already being evident after 1 month of therapy.Conclusions: PMR is characterized by an important chronic subclinical inflammatory component. This pilot study demonstrates that affected patients show endothelial dysfunction that slowly responds to steroid therapy. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical relevance of these observations and, in particular, to monitor the cardiovascular risk profile of PMR patients.

Genetic regulation of dimethylarginines and endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) confers an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk which accounts for much of the premature morbidity and mortality observed in this population. Alterations in vascular function and morphology leading to increased atherosclerotic burden are considered the main drivers of CVD in RA individuals with systemic inflammation playing a key role in the dysregulation of endothelial homeostasis and initiation of vascular injury. Dimethylarginines are endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and have emerged as novel, independent biomarkers of CVD in a wide range of conditions associated with vascular pathology. In RA several reports have demonstrated abnormal dimethylarginine metabolism attributable to various factors such as systemic inflammation, decreased degradation or upregulated synthesis. Although a causal relationship between dimethylarginines and vascular damage in RA has not been established, the tight interrelations between inflammation, dimethylarginines and endothelial dysfunction suggest that determination of dimethylarginine regulators may shed more light in the pathophysiology of the atherosclerotic process in RA and may also provide new therapeutic targets. The Alanine-Glyoxylate Aminotransferase 2 (AGTX2)-dependent pathway is a relatively recently discovered alternative pathway of dimethylarginine catabolism and its role on RA-related atherosclerotic disease is yet to be established. As factors affecting dimethylarginine concentrations linked to CVD risk and endothelial dysfunction are of prominent clinical relevance in RA, we present preliminary evidence that gene variants of AGTX-2 may influence dimethylarginine levels in RA patients and provide the rationale for larger studies in this field.

The Development of Acute Systemic Multiple Thrombosis after Achieving Remission during Systemic Glucocorticoid Therapy for Acquired Hemophilia A

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a hemorrhagic disorder. Whether or not severe thrombotic events can develop without the use of bypassing agents in AHA patients is unclear. An 80-year-old woman with AHA underwent immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone at 1 mg/kg daily. After achieving remission, she suddenly developed multiple organ failure due to acute systemic thrombosis and died within a few hours of the diagnosis. Patients with AHA, especially those with risk factors for thrombosis, have a considerable risk of developing thrombosis during the recovery phase of factor VIII activity and should be carefully monitored by coagulation testing.

The art of cardiovascular risk assessment

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Healthcare expenditures have been principally allocated toward treatment of CVD at the end of the health/disease continuum, rather than toward health promotion and disease prevention. A focused effort on both primordial and primary prevention can promote cardiovascular health and reduce the burden of CVD. Risk-factor assessment for predicting atherosclerotic CVD events serves as the foundation of preventive cardiology and has been driven by population-based scoring algorithms based on traditional risk factors. Incorporating individual nontraditional risk factors, biomarkers, and selective use of noninvasive measures may help identify more at-risk patients as well as truly low-risk individuals, allowing for better targeting of treatment intensity. Using a combination of validated population-based atherosclerotic CVD risk-assessment tools, nontraditional risk factors, social health determinants, and novel markers of atherosclerotic disease, we should be able to improve our ability to assess CVD risk. Through scientific evidence, clinical judgment, and discussion between the patient and clinician, we can implement an effective evidence-based strategy to assess and reduce CVD risk.

Atherosclerosis and autoimmunity: a growing relationship

Atherosclerosis is regarded as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Nowadays, it seems that atherosclerosis cannot be defined merely through the Framingham traditional risk factors and that autoimmunity settings exert a remarkable role in its mechanobiology. Individuals with autoimmune disorders show enhanced occurrence of cardiovascular complications and subclinical atherosclerosis. The mechanisms underlying the atherosclerosis in disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic sclerosis and Sjögren's syndrome, seem to be the classical risk factors. However, chronic inflammatory processes and abnormal immune function may also be involved in atherosclerosis development. Autoantigens, autoantibodies, infectious agents and pro-inflammatory mediators exert a role in that process. Being armed with the mechanisms underlying autoimmunity in the etiopathogenesis of atherosclerosis in rheumatic autoimmune disorders and the shared etiologic pathway may result in substantial developing therapeutics for these patients.

Long-term Treatment with Anti-platelet Agents for Collagen-induced Arthritis Improves Radiological Findings

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the long-term effect of anti-platelet treatment on the radiological progression of collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Methods

Female Lewis rats with collagen-induced arthritis were divided into three experimental groups: saline, aspirin monotherapy (n = 12), and aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy (n = 12). Drugs were administered daily and continued up to 70 days after the induction of arthritis. The clinical arthritis index (weight, morphology score, and paw thickness) and radiological scores were evaluated.

Results

The clinical arthritis index peaked on day 20, while the radiological scores peaked on day 35. No intergroup difference was observed in the clinical arthritis index throughout the experiment. The aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy group had a significantly higher mean radiological score than the other groups (p = 0.045) on day 35. Further treatments resulted in significantly improved radiological findings in the aspirin monotherapy and aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy groups on day 70 but no significant improvement in the saline group.

Conclusion

Anti-platelet agent treatment improved radiological findings on day 70. These observations emphasize the importance of a future long-term study of the effects of anti-platelet agent treatment on arthritis.

Characterisation of the vascular pathology in Sigmodon hispidus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) following experimental infection with Angiostrongylus costaricensis (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae)

BACKGROUND

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a nematode that causes human abdominal angiostrongyliasis, a disease found mainly in Latin American countries and particularly in Brazil and Costa Rica. Its life cycle involves exploitation of both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Its natural reservoir is a vertebrate host, the cotton rat Sigmodon hispidus. The adult worms live in the ileo-colic branches of the upper mesenteric artery of S. hispidus, causing periarteritis. However, there is a lack of data on the development of vasculitis in the course of infection.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the histopathology of vascular lesions in S. hispidus following infection with A. costaricensis.

METHODS

Twenty-one S. hispidus were euthanised at 30, 50, 90 and 114 days post-infection (dpi), and guts and mesentery (including the cecal artery) were collected. Tissues were fixed in Carson's Millonig formalin, histologically processed for paraffin embedding, sectioned with a rotary microtome, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, resorcin-fuchsin, Perls, Sirius Red (pH = 10.2), Congo Red, and Azan trichrome for brightfield microscopy analysis.

FINDINGS

At 30 and 50 dpi, live eggs and larvae were present inside the vasa vasorum of the cecal artery, leading to eosinophil infiltrates throughout the vessel adventitia and promoting centripetal vasculitis with disruption of the elastic layers. Disease severity increased at 90 and 114 dpi, when many worms had died and the intensity of the vascular lesions was greatest, with intimal alterations, thrombus formation, iron accumulation, and atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSION

In addition to abdominal angiostrongyliasis, our data suggest that this model could be very useful for autoimune vasculitis and atherosclerosis studies.

Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Predictors of Plaque Occurrence and Progression Over 24 Weeks

Introduction:

This study evaluated the prevalence and progression of subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods:

Carotid arteries of RA patients were scanned using 3D ultrasound at baseline and 24 weeks for total plaque area, vessel wall volume, and intima-media thickness (IMT), as well as arterial stiffness measured using pulse wave velocity. Variables related to inflammation, lipids and cardiovascular (CV) risk were assessed for associations with plaque progression. Of 195 screened patients, 31 met inclusion criteria (66 Swollen joint count (SJC) plus 68 Tender joint count (TJC)≥8 OR SJC plus TJC≥4 with elevated acute phase reactants) and were enrolled (27 female; mean age 59.3±9.8years). Patients using lipid lowering drugs and uncontrolled comorbidities were excluded.

Results:

Atherosclerotic plaque occurred in 35% and arterial wall hypertrophy (IMT≥0.6mm) in 86% of patients. Most (68%) had an abnormal lipid profile characterized by reduced HDL and/or increased total cholesterol/HDL index, which was adversely affected by disease activity. Stepwise binary logistic regression analysis showed that Framingham risk score (OR=1.155, 95%CI:1.002-1.332, p=0.046) and ESR (OR=1.148, 95%CI:1.015-1.299, p=0.028) predicted plaque burden most strongly. Plaque progression was significantly associated with baseline higher hsCRP, ESR, and heavy smoking, but only hsCRP predicted plaque growth in multivariate regression analysis (p=0.004); and hsCRP was related to higher disease activity (r=0.443, p=0.016), LDL (r=0.544, p=0.007), and smoking (r=0.384, p=0.04).

Conclusion:

RA-related inflammation contributed to augmented CV burden in RA and might mediate its effect on atherosclerosis through hsCRP and modulation of the traditional CV risk factors, such as dyslipidemia.

Estrogens, autoimmunity and the heart

Systemic inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases are associated with a significantly increased rate of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Several mechanisms of accelerated atherosclerosis have been proposed, including abnormal lipid and lipoprotein profiles, oxidative stress, enhanced apoptosis, thrombophilia, immune complexes and increased mononuclear cell infiltration of atherosclerotic lesions, local generation of cytokines and female estrogen deficiency. However, the widely shared enthusiasm about the cardioprotective potential of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogens, has come to an abrupt halt since very recent randomized trials failed to show a cardiovascular risk reduction in postmenopausal women. Several factors might play a role in these discrepancies, in particular, parts of the striking discrepancy between observational and randomized data have been attributed to an estrogen-mediated adverse effect on inflammation (enhancement, possibly dose-related). In fact, estrogens potentially increase the inflammatory/immune response in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. New roles for estrogen peripheral metabolites (hydroxylated) and their increased formation in inflammatory sites, might partially introduce some explanations for several apparently contrasting evidences.

Association of Nocturnal Hypertension With Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVES

Both nocturnal hypertension (HT) and systemic inflammation underlying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been shown to be independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although little is known on the relationship between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and disease activity in RA patients.

METHODS

We performed 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in 71 RA patients to examine the relationship of nocturnal fall in BP and RA disease activity based on a disease activity score of 28 joint counts with C-reactive protein (CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-CRP). Among them, 25 RA patients whose consent obtained were reexamined by ABPM to assess the improvement of nocturnal fall in BP after RA therapeutic intervention.

RESULTS

The mean DAS28-CRP level was 4.8±1.6 in 71 RA patients. The mean nocturnal fall in BP was 5.6±8.9%. DAS28-CRP was associated significantly and independently in a negative manner with the nocturnal fall in BP (β = -0.388, P = 0.004). In 25 RA patients, DAS28-CRP improved from 5.4±1.1 to 3.5±0.8 (P < 0.0001) and the nocturnal fall in BP increased significantly from 4.5±9.2% to 10.6±5.8% (P = 0.002) with the significant decrease of nighttime systolic BP (SBP) from 121.2±22.5mm Hg to 112.5±18.8mm Hg (P = 0.02) in spite of no change in daytime BP after 4 weeks of RA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study observed that higher RA activity was associated with lower nocturnal fall in BP, but not daytime BP, in RA patients.

Clinical assessment of endothelial function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis of literature studies

BACKGROUND

Several studies reported an increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Flow-mediated (FMD) and nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD) are considered non-invasive methods to assess endothelial function and surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression of literature studies evaluating the impact of RA on FMD and NMD. Studies evaluating the relationship between RA and markers of CV risk (FMD and NMD) were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE databases. The random-effect method was used for analyses and results were expressed as mean difference (MD).

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies (852 RA patients, 836 controls) were included in the final analysis. In detail, 20 studies with data on FMD (852 cases, 836 controls) and 5 studies with data on NMD (207 cases, 147 controls) were analyzed. Compared to controls, RA patients showed a significantly lower FMD (MD: -2.16%; 95% CI: -3.33, -0.98; P=0.0003), with no differences in NMD (MD: -0.41%; 95% CI: -2.89, 2.06; P=0.74). Interestingly, a lower FMD (MD: -2.00%; 95% CI: -3.20, -0.80; P=0.001) and no differences in NMD (P=0.49) were confirmed when excluding data on patients with early-RA. Meta-regression models showed that a more severe inflammatory status was associated with a more significant impairment in FMD.

CONCLUSIONS

RA patients show impaired FMD, which is currently considered an independent predictor of CV events. The presence of endothelial dysfunction in RA should be taken into account to plan adequate prevention strategies and therapeutic approaches.

Effects of Methotrexate on Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and antirheumatic drugs on atherosclerosis by comparing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) as an indicator for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study included 44 female RA patients who met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and age-matched 22 healthy females. CIMT was measured on both carotid arteries using a B-mode ultrasound scan. The mean value of both sides was taken as the CIMT of the subject. The CIMT was evaluated according to the use of drugs, disease activity and CVD risk factors in RA patients as a case-control study. Higher CIMT was observed in RA patients as compared with healthy subjects (0.705 ± 0.198 mm, 0.611 ± 0.093 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). With adjustment for the CVD risk factors, disease activity and the use of anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate (MTX) only showed a favorable effect on CIMT in RA. A significantly lower CIMT was observed in RA with MTX as compared with RA without MTX (0.644 ± 0.136 mm, 0.767 ± 0.233 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). The effects were correlated with MTX dosage (β = -0.029, P < 0.01). The use of MTX should be considered in high priority not only to control arthritis but also to reduce the RA-related CVD risk to mortality.

The increased cardiovascular risk in patients affected by autoimmune diseases: review of the various manifestations

Cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases are among major health concerns in developed countries, and both represent a significant source of morbidity, mortality and economic costs. Despite they are thought to affect subjects at different ages, most of the deaths of patients affected by autoimmune diseases are represented by cardiovascular deaths. Several manifestations of cardiovascular diseases can be observed in patients with autoimmune diseases, such as endothelial dysfunction, accelerated atherosclerosis and an increase in the rate of acute coronary syndromes. Thus, people with autoimmune diseases have an increased cardiovascular risk and a worse outcome in the case of cardiovascular events. In this review, we will describe the correlations between the two spectra of diseases.

Can the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) and carotis intima media thickness (CIMT) be new early stage markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

BACKGROUND

It takes years for atherosclerosis to manifest symptoms. However, it needs to be identified earlier because of the premature cardiovascular risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of atherosclerosis on the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) and carotis intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with RA.

METHODS

RA patients attending the rheumatology clinic were examined retrospectively; then we called them for the measurements of ABPI and CIMT prospectively. Subjects were divided into four groups, as follows (Table 1): group 1 comprised RA patients with an ABPI less than 0.9; group 2 included RA patients with an ABPI between 0.9 and 1.2; group 3 was made up of RA patients with an ABPI greater than 1.2; and group 4 included patients without RA with an ABPI between 0.9 and 1.2 as a control group. Patients' demographic data were recorded. Hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus, ABPI and CIMT measurements were taken by specialists. Duration of RA and disease scores (disease activity score-28, health assessment questionnaire score and visual assessment score) were recorded.

RESULTS

The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease in patients with RA was twice as high as that in the normal population of equivalent age. Patients in group 2, with RA and normal ABPI, exhibited a significant higher mean in CIMT (mm) compared with the control group (p < 0.01), despite having normal ABPI. This confirms that these patients have a higher risk of stroke compared with the control group. Group 1's newly diagnosed HT (p < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) values (p < 0.01) were higher and statistically significant when compared with the group 4 (control group); in addition, significant plaque levels were observed in the carotid arteries (p < 0.01). Group 3 patients had a similar history of HT and increased SBP compared with patients in group 4 (p < 0.01), and had similar characteristics to with group 1. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and white blood cell counts.

CONCLUSION

Based on the present findings, patients with RA need to be evaluated in the early stage of the disease for subclinical peripheral artery disease using the ABPI, as well as CIMT, which is also a non-invasive technique, in terms of cerebrovascular events. Inflammatory markers exhibited no statistically significant difference. We think that the atherosclerotic process stems not only from the inflammatory effects of RA, but also perhaps from its immunological nature.

Cardiovascular risk factors in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome: United Kingdom primary Sjögren's syndrome registry results

Objective

To determine the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors using established definitions in a large cohort of clinically well-characterized primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients and to compare them to healthy controls.

Methods

Data on cardiovascular risk factors in primary SS patients and controls were collected prospectively using a standardized pro forma. Cardiovascular risk factors were defined according to established definitions. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the primary SS group was determined and compared to that in the control group.

Results

Primary SS patients had a higher prevalence of hypertension (28–50% versus 15.5–25.6%; P < 0.01) and hypertriglyceridemia (21% versus 9.5%; P = 0.002) than age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Furthermore, a significant percentage (56%) of hypertensive patients expected to be on antihypertensive treatment according to best practice was not receiving it.

Conclusion

Primary SS patients are more than 2 times more likely to experience hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia than age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Additionally, hypertension is underdiagnosed and suboptimally treated in primary SS.

Cardiac tissue characterization and the diagnostic value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in systemic connective tissue diseases

OBJECTIVE

Accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular involvement in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) remains challenging. We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrates cardiac lesions in symptomatic CTD patients with normal echocardiography.

METHODS

CMR from 246 CTD patients with typical cardiac symptoms (TCS; n = 146, group A) or atypical cardiac symptoms (ATCS; n = 100, group B) was retrospectively evaluated. Group A included 9 patients with inflammatory myopathy (IM), 35 with sarcoidosis, 30 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 14 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 10 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 48 with small vessel vasculitis. Group B included 25 patients with RA, 20 with SLE, 20 with sarcoidosis, 15 with SSc, 10 with IM, and 10 with small vessel vasculitis. CMR was performed by 1.5T; left ventricular ejection fraction, T2 ratio (edema imaging), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE; fibrosis imaging) were evaluated. Acute and chronic lesions were characterized as LGE positive plus T2 ratio >2 and T2 ratio ≤2, respectively. According to LGE, lesions were characterized as diffuse subendocardial, subepicardial, and subendocardial/transmural due to vasculitis, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction, respectively. A stress study by dobutamine echocardiography or stress, nuclear, or adenosine CMR was performed in CTD patients with negative rest CMR.

RESULTS

Abnormal CMR was identified in 32% (27% chronic) and 15% (12% chronic) of patients with TCS and ATCS, respectively. Lesions due to vasculitis, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction were evident in 27.4%, 62.6%, and 9.6% of CTD patients, respectively. Stress studies in CTD patients with negative CMR revealed coronary artery disease in 20%.

CONCLUSION

CMR in symptomatic CTD patients with normal echocardiography can assess disease acuity and identify vasculitis, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction.

The role of rheumatologists vis-à-vis assessment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis

This study was designed to estimate the burden of care that would be placed on rheumatologists to undertake cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment of traditional CV risk factors in their patients. This cross-sectional study was set in a rheumatology ambulatory clinic of a tertiary care, university hospital. Consecutive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were recruited over 6 weeks and matched 1:1 on age and sex to patients with non-inflammatory problems who presented to the same clinic. CV risk was calculated using the Framingham Risk Score. We recruited 68 RA patients and 64 controls. The distribution of CV risk factors in RA patients and controls was similar. Ten-year Framingham CV risk scores based on traditional risk factors were moderate and similar in RA patients and controls (13.7 and 14.3%, respectively). Nevertheless, the proportion of RA patients with a history of coronary artery disease was more than twice that of controls (13 versus 5%, respectively). Approximately 20% of RA patients and controls did not have a primary care physician. In rheumatology practice, the problem of elevated CV risk due to traditional risk factors is not unique to RA patients. The burden for rheumatologists of undertaking CV risk assessment in their clinic could be considerable. Rheumatologists should manage inflammatory disease and health services should be improved to ensure the optimal management of traditional CV risk factors for all rheumatology patients.

Edema and fibrosis imaging by cardiovascular magnetic resonance: how can the experience of Cardiology be best utilized in rheumatological practice?

OBJECTIVES

CMR, a non-invasive, non-radiating technique can detect myocardial oedema and fibrosis.

METHOD

CMR imaging, using T2-weighted and T1-weighted gadolinium enhanced images, has been successfully used in Cardiology to detect myocarditis, myocardial infarction and various cardiomyopathies.

RESULTS

Transmitting this experience from Cardiology into Rheumatology may be of important value because: (a) heart involvement with atypical clinical presentation is common in autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs). (b) CMR can reliably and reproducibly detect early myocardial tissue changes. (c) CMR can identify disease acuity and detect various patterns of heart involvement in CTDs, including myocarditis, myocardial infarction and diffuse vasculitis. (d) CMR can assess heart lesion severity and aid therapeutic decisions in CTDs.

CONCLUSION

The CMR experience, transferred from Cardiology into Rheumatology, may facilitate early and accurate diagnosis of heart involvement in these diseases and potentially targeted heart treatment.

Endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness in giant-cell arteritis

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickness are characteristic aspects of several vasculitides. We investigated retrospectively the impact of steroid treatment on endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickness in giant-cell arteritis.

METHODS

Forty-one patients with giant-cell arteritis (28 female and 13 male) underwent flow-mediated dilatation, a marker of endothelial function, and carotid intima-media thickness within 24 h after diagnosis and 6 months thereafter. Both parameters were investigated in 41 patients of an age- and gender-matched control group.

RESULTS

Brachial flow-mediated dilatation response at baseline was 3.4% (0.2, 8.0) and 1.7% (0.2, 4.8) in giant-cell arteritis patients and control group, respectively. After 6 months treatment, flow-mediated dilatation response was 2.8% (0.4, 4.8) in patients with giant-cell arteritis (P = 0.066) and 1.4% (0.1, 5.5) in the control group (P = 0.741). In contrast, mean carotid intima-media thickness of giant-cell arteritis patients improved significantly between baseline [1.0 mm (0.79, 1.2)] and 6-month follow-up [0.82 mm (0.7, 1.04), P < 0.001]. Subjects with additional symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica had a notable enlargement of carotid intima-media thickness [1.23 mm (1.14, 2.09)] compared to giant-cell arteritis patients without polymyalgia rheumatica at baseline [0.91 mm (0.76, 1.04), P = 0.001] and 6-month follow-up [1.16 mm (0.80, 1.26) vs. 0.77 mm (0.68, 0.88), P = 0.009].

CONCLUSION

Steroid therapy has no influence on endothelial function but does significantly improve carotid intima-media thickness in giant-cell arteritis. This divergence of endothelial function and intima-media thickness reflects the specifity of giant-cell arteritis for cerebrovascular arteries thereby sparing the brachial arteries.

Heart involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: multimodality imaging and the emerging role of cardiac magnetic resonance

OBJECTIVES

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exhibit a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD in RA can present in many guises, commonly detected at a subclinical level only.

METHODS

Modern imaging modalities that allow the noninvasive assessment of myocardial performance and are able to identify cardiac abnormalities in early asymptomatic stages may be useful tools in terms of screening, diagnostic evaluation, and risk stratification in RA.

RESULTS

The currently used imaging techniques are echocardiography, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Between them, echocardiography provides information about cardiac function, valves, and perfusion; SPECT provides information about myocardial perfusion and carries a high amount of radiation; and CMR-the most promising imaging modality-evaluates myocardial function, inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, valvular disease, perfusion, and presence of scar. Depending on availability, expertise, and clinical queries, "right technique should be applied for the right patient at the right time."

CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we present a short overview of CVD in RA focusing on the clinical implication of multimodality imaging and mainly on the evolving role of CMR in identifying high-risk patients who could benefit from prevention strategies and early specific treatment targeting the heart. Advantages and disadvantages of each imaging technique in the evaluation of RA are discussed.

Mean platelet volume and β-thromboglobulin levels in familial Mediterranean fever: effect of colchicine use?

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown that subclinical inflammation persisted during remission period of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients but long term effects of subclinical inflammation in these patients aren't clearly known. Besides, a few of the recent studies revealed that risk of atherosclerosis had increased in FMF patients. β-Thromboglobulin (β-TG) is considered as a sensitive marker of platelet activation. In this study Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and β-TG levels were evaluated in FMF patients.

METHODS

Following the Local Ethics Committee's consent, 25 FMF patients were included in the study. Twenty eight age and sex matched healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group. Lipid profile, inflammatory parameters, hemogram, β-TG, MPV were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS for Windows 16.00.

RESULTS

Group I consisted of 25 FMF cases (16 females, 9 males; mean age: 35.72 ± 12.34 years), Group II consisted of 28 cases (22 females, 6 males; mean age 31.78 ± 10.31 years). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age and gender distribution, smoking status, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and MPV (p>0.05). HDL levels were found to be statistically lower in Group I (p:0.04). Median β-TG levels was significantly higher in Group II than Group I (129.50 (range:372.00) ng/mL versus 104.00 (range:212.80) ng/mL respectively; p:0.03).

CONCLUSION

In this study MPV and β-TG were evaluated for FMF cases and healthy controls, β-TG levels were found significantly lower among patients; we hypothesized that this difference may have resulted from the effect of colchicine use on platelet functions.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine as a surrogate marker of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases

The last few decades have witnessed an increased life expectancy of patients suffering with systemic rheumatic diseases, mainly due to improved management, advanced therapies and preventative measures. However, autoimmune disorders are associated with significantly enhanced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality not fully explained by traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. It has been suggested that interactions between high-grade systemic inflammation and the vasculature lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, which may account for the excess risk for CVD events in this population. Diminished nitric oxide synthesis—due to down regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase—appears to play a prominent role in the imbalance between vasoactive factors, the consequent impairment of the endothelial hemostasis and the early development of atherosclerosis. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is one of the most potent endogenous inhibitors of the three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase and it is a newly discovered risk factor in the setting of diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction and adverse cardiovascular events. In the context of systemic inflammatory disorders there is increasing evidence that ADMA contributes to the vascular changes and to endothelial cell abnormalities, as several studies have revealed derangement of nitric oxide/ADMA pathway in different disease subsets. In this article we discuss the role of endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatic diseases, with a specific focus on the nitric oxide/ADMA system and we provide an overview on the literature pertaining to ADMA as a surrogate marker of subclinical vascular disease.

Advanced glycation end-products inhibition improves endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis

AIM

Chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction. The objective was to study the efficacy and safety of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibitor (benfotiamine 50 mg + pyridoxamine 50 mg + methylcobalamin 500 μg, Vonder(®) (ACME Lifescience, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India)) on endothelial function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Twenty-four patients with established active RA with high disease activity (Disease Activity Score of 28 joints [DAS28 score] > 5.1) despite treatment with stable doses of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were investigated. Inflammatory disease activity (DAS28 and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index [HAQ-DI] scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C-reactive protein [CRP]), markers of endothelial dysfunction, serum nitrite concentration and endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation of the brachial artery were measured before and after 12 weeks therapy with twice a day oral AGEs inhibitor.

RESULTS

After treatment, flow-mediated vasodilation improved from 9.64 ± 0.65% to 15.82 ± 1.02% (P < 0.01), whereas there was no significant change in endothelium-independent vasodilation with nitroglycerin and baseline diameter; serum nitrite concentration significantly reduced from 5.6 ± 0.13 to 5.1 ± 0.14 μmol/L (P = 0.004), ESR from 63.00 ± 3.5 to 28.08 ± 1.5 mm in the first h (P < 0.01) and CRP levels from 16.7 ± 4.1 to 10.74 ± 2.9 mg/dL (P < 0.01). DAS28 and HAQ-DI scores were significantly reduced, from 5.9 ± 0.17 to 3.9 ± 0.17 (P < 0.01) and 4.6 ± 0.17 to 1.7 ± 0.22 (P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced glycation end products inhibitor improves endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory disease activity in RA. In RA, endothelial dysfunction is part of the disease process and is mediated by AGEs-induced inflammation.

Vascular function and morphology in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

RA associates with significantly increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). This may be due to complex interactions between traditional CVD risk factors, systemic rheumatoid inflammation and the vasculature. We reviewed the current literature to answer: (i) whether there is sufficient evidence that patients with RA have altered vascular function and morphology compared with normal controls; (ii) whether there is sufficient evidence to determine if such changes relate predominantly to systemic inflammation; and (iii) whether any changes of vascular function and morphology in RA can be modified with therapy.

METHODS

The MEDLINE database was searched to identify publications from 1974 to 1 November 2010 pertaining to vascular function and morphology in RA. The total number of articles included in the present review was 93. This included 57 cross-sectional studies, 27 longitudinal studies without randomization and 9 longitudinal studies with randomization.

RESULTS

Vascular function and morphology was impaired in RA relative to healthy controls. The majority of studies reported no associations between systemic inflammation and vascular function. Treatment with anti-inflammatory medication resulted in both transient and long-term improvements in the vasculature, but only a few studies reported associations between change in inflammation and change in vascular function and morphology.

CONCLUSION

The link between systemic inflammation and vascular function and morphology is not wholly supported by the available literature. Long-term studies examining specific predictors (including CVD risk factors) on the vasculature in RA are needed.

Longitudinal levels of apolipoproteins and antibodies against phosphorylcholine are independently associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis 5 years after rheumatoid arthritis onset--a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

RA is associated with premature atherosclerosis. Here, we determined the associations of apolipoproteins and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) with carotid artery atherosclerosis in a prospective cohort of patients with early RA.

METHODS

In all 114 patients, age 50.6 (11.2) years, 68.4% women, with recent RA (<12 months after symptoms onset) were included and assessed at 0, 3, 12, 24 and 60 months after RA diagnosis. At the same time points, apolipoproteins were determined by immunoturbidimetry, and IgM anti-PC by ELISA. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (common carotid) and occurrence of plaques (common, internal and external carotids) were the principal study outcomes, which were examined with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography after 5 years of RA disease. Mixed linear modelling and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used for longitudinal statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Multivariate regression analyses showed that age, male gender, smoking (ever) and history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension or diabetes mellitus, but no other baseline variables, had independent associations with cIMT (P < 0.05). Plaque detection was positively associated with age and smoking (ever). After adjustment, a longitudinal approach demonstrated an independent negative prediction of cIMT by apoA1 (P = 0.047), but a positive by apoB/apoA1 ratio (P = 0.030). Higher levels of pro-atherogenic apolipoproteins over time, apoB and apoB/apoA1 ratio, and low anti-PC tertile were independently associated with enhanced detection of bilateral carotid plaque (P = 0.002, 0.026 and 0.000, respectively). Both baseline and longitudinal levels of inflammatory/disease-related factors failed to show significant associations with the study outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Apolipoproteins and anti-PC may have independent roles in subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA.

Is periodontal inflammation associated with raised blood pressure? Evidence from a National US survey

There is incomplete and inconclusive evidence for the association between periodontal disease markers and arterial blood pressure, particularly from large national epidemiological studies. This study assessed the relationship between different markers of periodontal inflammation and disease with arterial blood pressure in people aged 17 years and over in USA. We analysed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on 6617 men and 7377 women who received a periodontal examination. Blood pressure was analysed in both a continuous format and a binary variable for case definition of hypertension. Periodontal disease markers (extent of gingival bleeding, pocket depth, and loss of attachment, and a case definition of periodontitis) were associated on the arterial blood pressure outcomes through a series of regression models, incrementally adjusting for confounders (demographic, inflammation markers, chronic conditions, smoking, BMI, socio-economic status). All periodontal measures had significant crude associations with SBP and hypertension. Gingival bleeding, a marker of current periodontal inflammation, was the only measure consistently and significantly associated with raised SBP and an increased odds of hypertension in the US adult population throughout the adjustment process. For a 10% greater extent of gingival bleeding, the average SBP was higher by 0.5 (0.3, 0.6) mmHg in the fully adjusted model. By referring to the general population and the whole distribution of blood pressure, not only to those at higher risk for hypertension, this association might have some important implications for clinical practice and public health strategies.

Platelet function in rheumatoid arthritis: arthritic and cardiovascular implications

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at high risk of cardiovascular events. Platelet biomarkers are involved in inflammation, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Cardiovascular and RA-associated factors can alter the structure and function of platelets, starting from megakaryocytopoiesis. Reactive megakaryocytopoiesis increases circulating platelets count and triggers hyperactivity. Hyperactive platelets target synovial membranes with subsequent local rheumatoid inflammation. Hyperactive platelets interact with other cells, and target the vascular wall. Accumulating evidence suggests that disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) decrease platelet activity.

Platelet function in rheumatoid arthritis: arthritic and cardiovascular implications

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at high risk of cardiovascular events. Platelet biomarkers are involved in inflammation, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Cardiovascular and RA-associated factors can alter the structure and function of platelets, starting from megakaryocytopoiesis. Reactive megakaryocytopoiesis increases circulating platelets count and triggers hyperactivity. Hyperactive platelets target synovial membranes with subsequent local rheumatoid inflammation. Hyperactive platelets interact with other cells, and target the vascular wall. Accumulating evidence suggests that disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) decrease platelet activity.