REVIEW - Cardiovascular disease in RA: state of the art and future perspectives

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Ann Rheum Dis 2011;70:8-14 doi:10.1136/ard.2010.142133

Review for a new decade

Cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis: state of the art and

future perspectives

D Kitas1,2, Sherine E 3

1Department of Rheumatology, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation

Trust, s Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, UK

2Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit, Manchester University, Manchester, UK

3Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Epidemiology;

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic,

Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Correspondence to

Professor D Kitas, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation

Trust (Teaching), Clinical Research Unit - North Block, s Hall

Hospital, Dudley DY1 2HQ, UK;

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with an increased risk for

cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that classic cardiovascular risk

factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and

body composition alterations are important but not sufficient to

explain all of the excess risk. High-grade systemic inflammation and

its interplay with classic risk factors may also contribute. Some

associations between classic risk factors and cardiovascular risk in

people with rheumatoid arthritis appear counterintuitive but may be

explained on the basis of biological alterations. More research is

necessary to uncover the exact mechanisms responsible for this

phenomenon, develop accurate systems used to identify patients at high

risk, design and assess prevention strategies specific to this

population of patients.

http://ard.bmj.com/content/70/1/8.abstract

Not an MD