Abstract
Early detection of atherosclerosis is of major importance to reduce the increased incidence of cardiovascular (CV) complications observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Prospective studies have shown that an abnormally increased carotid intima-media thickness and the presence of plaques assessed by carotid ultrasound are good markers to predict the development of CV events in these patients. Age, classic CV risk factors, and corticosteroid use are also predictors of new plaque formation in patients with RA. Active treatment of the disease may decrease the inflammatory burden, leading to a reduction in the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in these patients.
Highlights
Detection of atherosclerosis is of major importance to reduce the increased incidence of cardiovascular (CV) complications observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events
Besides highlighting the expected influence of age and traditional CV risk factors, the authors highlighted the potential influence of corticosteroid use as an independent risk factor for new plaque formation in the follow-up of these patients [1]
Summary
Detection of atherosclerosis is of major importance to reduce the increased incidence of cardiovascular (CV) complications observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. In this issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Zampeli and colleagues [1] longitudinally assessed the association with new carotid artery plaques in a series of non-diabetic patients with RA.
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