Precocious atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: role of traditional and disease-related cardiovascular risk factors

Higher levels of markers for early atherosclerosis in anti-citrullinated protein antibodies positive individuals at risk for RA, a cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To identify differences in levels of serum biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis between anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positive groups.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were used from the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study combined with data derived from RA risk and early RA studies conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Serum biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial cell activation, tissue remodeling and adipokine, which were previously associated with atherosclerosis, were measured with Luminex in four ACPA positive groups with different characteristics: without joint complaints, with joint complaints, RA risk and early RA groups.

RESULTS

Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 (TNFR1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly higher in the RA risk and early RA groups compared to the joint complaints and the no joint complaints groups. The difference remained statistically significant after correcting for renal function, smoking and hypertension in multivariate logistic regression analysis, with focus on ACPA positive with joint complaints group versus RA risk group: CRP OR = 2.67, p = 0.033; IL-6 OR = 3.73, p = 0.019; TNFR1 OR = 1.003, p < 0.001; VGEF OR = 8.59, p = 0.019.

CONCLUSION

Individuals at risk for RA have higher levels of inflammatory markers and VEGF, which suggests that they might also have a risk of higher cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, this does not apply to individuals with ACPA positivity with self-reported joint complaints or without joint complaints only. Therefore, it is important that individuals with RA risk are referred to a rheumatologist to rule in or out arthritis/development of RA and discuss CVD risk.

Predictors and prognostic role of low myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency in chronic inflammatory arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the variables associated with the status of low myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency (MEE) [the ratio between myocardial left ventricular (LV) work and magnitude of myocardial oxygen consumption] and whether low-MEE is a prognosticator of adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS

A total of 432 outpatients with established chronic inflammatory arthritis without overt cardiac disease were recruited from March 2014-March 2016; 216 participants were used as comparison group. Low-MEE status was a priori identified by standard echocardiography at rest as less than 0.32 ml/s per g (5th percentile of MEE calculated in 145 healthy individuals). The pre-specified primary end-point of the study was a composite of cardiovascular death/hospitalization. Follow-up ended September 2019.

RESULTS

MEE was significantly lower in chronic inflammatory arthritis patients than controls (0.35 ± 0.11 vs. 0.45 ± 0.10 ml/s per g; P < 0.001). Low-MEE was detected in 164 patients (38%). Independent predictors of low-MEE were older age, higher SBP, diabetes mellitus, LV concentric geometry and lower LV systolic function. During a follow-up of 36 (21-48) months, a primary end-point occurred in 37 patients (8.6%): 22/164 patients with low-MEE (13.4%) and 15/268 (5.6%) without low-MEE (P = 0.004). Low-MEE predicted primary end-points in multivariate Cox regression analysis [heart rate 2.23 (confidence interval 1.13-4.38), P = 0.02] together with older age, lower renal function and higher LV mass.

CONCLUSION

Low-MEE is detectable in more than one-third of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis and is associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and abnormalities in LV geometry and systolic function. In these patients low-MEE is a powerful prognosticator of adverse cardiovascular events.

Bimodal Function of Anti-TNF Treatment: Shall We Be Concerned about Anti-TNF Treatment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Failure?

Treatment with anti-TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor), one of the pivotal cytokines, was introduced to clinical practice at the end of last century and revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as many other inflammatory conditions. Such a treatment may however bring many safety issues regarding infections, tuberculosis, as well as cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure. Given the central role of proinflammatory cytokines in RA, atherosclerosis, and congestive heart failure (CHF), such a treatment might result in better control of the RA process on the one side and improvement of heart function on the other. Unfortunately, at the beginning of this century two randomized controlled trials failed to show any benefit of anti-TNF treatment in patients with heart failure (HF), suggesting direct negative impact of the treatment on morbidity and mortality in HF patients. As a result the anti-TNF treatment is contraindicated in all patients with heart failure and a substantial portion of patients with RA and impaired heart function are not able to benefit from the treatment. The role of TNF in CHF and RA differs substantially with regard to the source and pathophysiological function of the cytokine in both conditions, therefore negative data from CHF studies should be interpreted with caution. At least some of RA patients with heart failure may benefit from anti-TNF treatment, as it results not only in the reduction of inflammation but also contributes significantly to the improvement of cardiac function. The paper addresses the epidemiological data of safety of anti-TNF treatment in RA patients with the special emphasis to basic pathophysiological mechanisms via which TNF may act differently in both diseases.

High titer of anti-citrullinated peptide antibody is a risk factor for severe carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the TOMORROW study

AIM

Cardiovascular disease is one of the complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We researched the morbidity and severity of existing carotid atherosclerosis plaque and associated risk factors in patients with RA.

METHOD

This study included 413 participants, including 208 patients with RA and 205 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Carotid ultrasound, clinical data collection and assessment of cardiovascular risk factors were performed. Atherosclerotic plaque was defined as an intima-media thickness ≥ 1.1 mm. Severity of plaque was assessed by plaque score, defined as the sum of the maximal thickness of all plaques in bilateral carotid arteries.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed from 200 patients with RA and 202 controls. Carotid plaque was observed more frequently in patients with RA than controls (47.0 vs. 36.1%, P = 0.027). Moreover, plaque score was significantly higher in RA patients (P = 0.032). In logistic regression analysis, RA represented an independent risk factor for the presence of plaque (adjusted odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.74). Comparing RA patients with and without plaque, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies titer was significantly higher in patients with plaque (315.8 ± 454.1 U/mL) than in patients without (165.7 ± 281.1 U/mL; P = 0.005). Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis clarified that anti-CCP antibody titer was associated with plaque score in patients with RA.

CONCLUSION

High prevalence of any carotid plaques and severe carotid plaques were more frequent in patients with RA. High titer of anti-CCP antibodies represented a risk factor for severe carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with RA.

Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies and their value for predicting responses to biologic agents: a review

Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs) play an important pathogenic role both at the onset and during the disease course. These antibodies precede the clinical appearance of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are associated with a less favorable prognosis, both clinically and radiologically. The objective of this work was to conduct a comprehensive review of studies published through September 2015 of ACPAs' role as a predictor of the therapeutic response to the biological agents in RA patients. The review also includes summary of the biology and detection of ACPAs as well as ACPAs in relation to joint disease and CV disease and the possible role of seroconversion. The reviews of studies examining TNF inhibitors and tocilizumab yielded negative results. In the case of rituximab, the data indicated a greater probability of clinical benefit in ACPA(+) patients versus ACPA(-) patients, as has been previously described for rheumatoid factor. Nonetheless, the effect is discreet and heterogeneous. Another drug that may have greater effectiveness in ACPA(+) patients is abatacept. Some studies have suggested that the drug is more efficient in ACPA(+) patients and that those patients show greater drug retention. In a subanalysis of the AMPLE trial, patients with very high ACPA titers who were treated with abatacept had a statistically significant response compared to patients with lower titers. In summary, the available studies suggest that the presence of or high titers of ACPA may predict a better response to rituximab and/or abatacept. Evidence regarding TNFi and tocilizumab is lacking. However, there is a lack of studies with appropriate designs to demonstrate that some drugs are superior to others for ACPA(+) patients.

The count of tender rather than swollen joints correlates with aortic stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a higher cardiovascular (CV) risk in comparison to the general population. CV risk associates closely with aortic stiffness. Aim of this exploration was therefore to evaluate aortic stiffness in patients with RA and to examine its association with various RA associated parameters as well as with traditional CV risk factors.

METHODS

Measurements of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) were analyzed retrospectively in 38 RA patients and 25 controls. We investigated the statistical difference between cfPWV values in the two groups. Furthermore, we analyzed the associations of cfPWV with laboratory and clinical RA parameters including Disease Activity Score 28 and its components, rheumatoid factor, cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, antinuclear antibodies and RA duration. Finally, we explored the relationship of cfPWV with traditional CV risk factors in the RA group.

RESULTS

cfPWV was not significantly higher in RA patients in comparison to controls in an adjusted statistical model for confounding factors [-0.587 95 % CI (-1.38 to 0.201), p = 0.144]. Among RA patients there was a statistically significant correlation of cfPWV with age (rho = 0.544, p = 0.001) and the count of tender joints [0.051 95 % CI (0.008-0.207), p = 0.034]. Finally, C-reactive protein associated only marginally with cfPWV [0.105 95 % CI (-0.410 to 0.003), p = 0.053].

CONCLUSIONS

In RA patients the number of tender, rather than swollen joints correlates with stiffness of the aorta, as measured through cfPWV. Therefore, RA associated joint pain might play a role in the development of aortic stiffness and thus increase CV risk.

Significant effects of biologic therapy on lipid profiles and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

The goal of this study was to investigate (1) the associations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related inflammation or rheumatoid factor/anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) positivity with lipid profiles and insulin resistance (IR), (2) the effects of biologic therapy on lipid profiles and IR, and (3) potential predictors for the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods

Serum levels of lipid profiles were determined by enzymatic methods in 32 adalimumab-treated patients, 16 etanercept-treated patients, 24 tocilizumab-treated patients, and 20 biologic-naïve patients. Atherogenic index, which corresponds to the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), was calculated. IR was measured by homeostasis model assessment. Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness was determined by using sonography.

Results

There was an inverse correlation between disease activity (disease activity score for 28 joints, or DAS28) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (r = −0.226, P <0.05) and a positive correlation between DAS28 and IR (r = 0.361, P <0.005). Anti-CCP-positive patients had significantly higher DAS28 and IR compared with anti-CCP-negative patients. There was also a positive correlation between IR and levels of interleukin-6 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). HDL-C levels significantly increased in patients receiving 6-month anti-TNF-α therapy, and levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride increased in tocilizumab-treated patients. IR significantly decreased in patients under biologic therapy but was unchanged in biologic-naïve patients. Age, IR, and DAS28 were significant predictors of severe subclinical atherosclerosis (odds ratios of 1.08, 2.77, and 2.52, respectively).

Conclusions

Significant associations of RA-related inflammation with lipid profiles and IR indicate the involvement of RA in atherosclerosis pathogenesis. Biologic therapies were associated with IR reduction without change in atherogenic index, but their beneficial effects on atherosclerosis reduction need to be verified in the future.

Is preclinical autoimmunity benign?: The case of cardiovascular disease

Although there are many examples of autoantibodies in disease-free individuals, they can be a preclinical phenomenon heralding future autoimmune rheumatic disease. They may be a marker for autoreactive B-cell activation and other inflammatory autoimmune processes. The increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and the increased risk of CVD in patients with rheumatic disease with autoantibodies, suggest that CVD may have autoimmune features. Autoantibodies might be risk markers for subclinical and clinical CVD development not only in patients with rheumatic diseases but in the general population as well.

Increased sensitivity of Apolipoprotein E knockout mice to swainsonine dependent immunomodulation

The mechanisms that mediate accelerated atherosclerosis in autoimmune diseases remain unclear. One common mechanism that has been documented in autoimmune diseases and atherosclerosis is formation of hypoglycosyalted N-glycans on the cell surface. In this study we tested the effects of swainsonine, a class II α-mannosidase inhibitor which results in formation of hypoglycosylated N-glycans, on atherogenesis and immune cell dynamics in the atheroprone and hypercholesterolemic ApoE -/- mouse. Wild type or ApoE-/- mice (8 weeks of age) were fed a normal chow diet and administered swainsonine via the drinking water for 8 weeks at which time, atherosclerosis, and systemic markers of markers of inflammation were evaluated. Interestingly, no change in the rate of atherosclerosis development was observed in ApoE -/- mice treated with swainsonine. However, swainsonine significantly increased the number of peripheral blood leukocytes in ApoE -/- mice, with trends toward similar increases in swainsonine treated wild type mice noted. Assessment of leukocyte subsets using specific markers of all major blood lineages indicated that the increase in circulating leukocytes was due to the elevated number of progenitor cells. Consistent with swainsonine having a greater effect in ApoE -/- vs. wild type mice, increases in circulating inflammatory markers (IgA, IgG and chemokines) were observed in the former. Collectively, these data demonstrate that predisposition of ApoE -/- mice to vascular disease is associated with sensitization to the immunomodulatory effects of swainsonine and indicate that changes in N-glycans may provide a mechanism linking autoimmunity to atherogenesis.

The prevalence of abnormal pulse wave velocity, pulse contour analysis and ankle-brachial index in patients with livedo reticularis: a controlled study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of abnormal pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse contour analysis (PCA) and abnormal ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) in patients with livedo reticularis (livedo) and without livedo.

METHODS

We recruited 74 patients, of whom 41 had livedo: 16 APS, 9 APS with SLE and 16 with livedo (negative for aPL or lupus). The other group of 33 patients without livedo consisted of 10 APS, 8 APS with SLE and 15 with SLE only. Livedo was diagnosed and confirmed by a dermatologist. PWV was assessed in fasting patients by the Micro Medical PulseTrace analyser using a 4 MHz continuous-wave directional Doppler probe and digital PCA was analysed by Micro Medical PulseTrace by the same operator. Chi-square with Yates's correction was used for comparing results.

RESULTS

The median age of the livedo patients was 46 (29-71) years and of the non-livedo patients was 45 (25-68) years. Abnormal values of PWV in 10/41 (24.40%), ABPI in 4/41 (9.8%) and PCA in 10/41 (24.40%) patients were observed in the livedo group and in the non-livedo group abnormal values of PWV in 1/33 (P ≤ 0.025), ABPI in 0/33 (P = NS) and PCA in 5/33 (P = NS) were observed.

CONCLUSION

Patients with livedo reticularis are more likely to have abnormal PWV, indicating arterial stiffness.

Anti-CCP antibody in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: Does it predict adverse cardiovascular profile?

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular (CV) events that accounts for a significant proportion of mortality among these patients. Anti-CCP antibodies are associated with higher frequency of extra-articular manifestations and poorer outcomes in RA.

AIMS

To determine the role of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody as an independent risk factor for developing CV complications as documented by carotid intima medial thickness and abnormal echocardiography in established RA patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty patients of RA having disease duration of at least 3 years participated in this hospital-based, cross-sectional, and observational study. Forty patients were anti-CCP antibody positive. Patients of established RA having known CV risk factors, known heart disease, or family history of premature ischemic heart disease were excluded.

RESULTS

Anti-CCP positive group had early morning stiffness, tender and swollen joint count, and c-reactive protein (CRP) level significantly higher than those in anti-CCP negative group. Average intima-medial thicknesses of common carotid arteries were also significantly higher among anti-CCP positive group (P = 0.029) and were positively correlated with patients' age and disease duration. Lower left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were more commonly dispersed among the anti-CCP positive patients with P values of 0.01 and 0.034, respectively. Mild pericardial thickening was documented among 12.5% patients of anti-CCP positive group, while none of the anti-CCP negative patients had similar findings in echocardiography.

CONCLUSION

This study stressed on the important role of anti-CCP antibody in myocardial dysfunction due to inflammation in RA patients. Both atherosclerotic vascular involvement and cardiac abnormalities including pericardial, myocardial, and endocardial involvements were higher among anti-CCP positive RA patients. Hence, patients with high titer of anti-CCP antibody associated with prolonged disease duration and increased disease activity should be evaluated for CV morbidity more meticulously.

Validated methods for assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in rheumatology

Rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other types of arthritides and connective tissue diseases, is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The early signs of cardiovascular disease therefore need to be recognized in patients with these conditions so that effective cardiovascular protection can be introduced. This Review provides an overview of validated techniques that are currently available to determine subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatic conditions. Techniques for early assessment of endothelial dysfunction include brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation and laser Doppler flowmetry. Coronary circulation can be assessed by measuring coronary flow reserve using CT, MRI or PET based techniques. The standard indicators of arterial stiffness are pulse-wave velocity and the augmentation index. Carotid atherosclerosis is determined by the common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) measurement or by the assessment of plaques and plaque areas. The combination of ccIMT with plaque assessment is likely to increase the predictive value of this approach. The potential use of a multimarker approach to increase the diagnostic and prognostic value of these clinical assessments is also discussed.

Carotid atherosclerosis predicts incident acute coronary syndromes in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

The role of atherosclerosis in the acute coronary syndromes (ACS) that occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been quantified in detail. We undertook this study to determine the extent to which ACS are associated with carotid atherosclerosis in RA.

METHODS

We prospectively ascertained ACS, defined as myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cardiac arrest, or death due to ischemic heart disease, in an RA cohort. We measured carotid atherosclerosis using high-resolution ultrasound. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association between ACS and atherosclerosis, adjusting for demographic features, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and RA manifestations.

RESULTS

We performed carotid ultrasound on 636 patients whom we followed up for 3,402 person-years. During this time, 84 patients experienced 121 new or recurrent ACS events, a rate of 3.5 ACS events per 100 patient-years (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.0-4.3). Among the 599 patients without a history of ACS, 66 incident ACS events occurred over 3,085 person-years, an incidence of 2.1 ACS events per 100 person-years (95% CI 1.7-2.7). The incidence of new ACS events per 100 patient-years was 1.1 (95% CI 0.6-1.7) among patients without plaque, 2.5 (95% CI 1.7-3.8) among patients with unilateral plaque, and 4.3 (95% CI 2.9-6.3) among patients with bilateral plaque. Covariates associated with incident ACS events independent of atherosclerosis included male sex, diabetes mellitus, and a cumulative glucocorticoid dose of ≥ 20 gm.

CONCLUSION

Atherosclerosis is strongly associated with ACS in RA. RA patients with carotid plaque, multiple CV risk factors (particularly diabetes mellitus or hypertension), many swollen joints, and a high cumulative dose of glucocorticoids, as well as RA patients who are men, are at high risk of ACS.

Comparative assessment of vascular function in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: considerations of prevention and treatment

Numerous autoimmune-inflammatory rheumatic diseases have been associated with accelerated atherosclerosis or other types of vasculopathy leading to increased cardio- and cerebrovascular disease risk. Traditional risk factors, as well as the role of systemic inflammation including cytokines, chemokines, proteases, autoantibodies, adhesion receptors and others have been implicated in the development of these vascular pathologies. The characteristics of vasculopathies may significantly differ depending on the underlying disease. While classical accelerated atherosclerosis has been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or spondyloarthropathies (SpA), obliterative vasculopathy may rather be characteristic for systemic sclerosis (SSc) or mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Antiphospholipid antibodies have been implicated in vasculopathies underlying SLE, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), RA and MCTD. There is also heterogeneity with respect to inflammatory risk factors. Cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin 6 (IL-6) and immune complexes are primarily involved in arthritides, such as RA, SpA, as well as in SLE. On the other hand, autoantibodies including anti-oxLDL anti-cardiolipin and anti-β2GPI are rather involved in SLE- and APS-associated vasculopathies. Regarding the non-invasive assessment of vascular function, endothelial dysfunction, overt atherosclerosis and vascular stiffness may be indicated by brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) and aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV), respectively. These abnormalities have been described in most inflammatory rheumatic diseases. While ccIMT and stiffness are relatively stable, FMD may be influenced by many confounding factors. In addition to traditional vasculoprotection, immunosuppressive agents including corticosteroids, traditional and biologic DMARDs may have significant vascular and metabolic effects. The official EULAR recommendations on the assessment and management of cardiovascular disease in arthritides have just been published, and similar recommendations in connective tissue diseases are to be developed soon.

Atherosclerotic vascular damage and rheumatoid arthritis: a complex but intriguing link

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a reduced life expectancy mainly due to cardiovascular disease. In long-standing disease, it has been widely demonstrated that both traditional cardiovascular risk and disease-related factors, including chronic inflammation and immune-mediated mechanisms, play a key role in accelerating atherosclerotic damage of the arterial wall. The short- and long-term effects of immunosuppressive treatment on cardiovascular disease outcome is, however, uncertain and a multidisciplinary approach appears to represent the best management of cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Cardiac involvement in systemic rheumatic diseases: An update

The high rates of cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity observed in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) cannot be fully explained by traditional atherosclerosis risk factors as standard therapy (i.e. corticosteroids and methotrexate), cytokines and disease activity may all contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. There is considerable evidence showing that chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation play a pathogenetic role in the development of atherosclerosis in patients with SADs. Chronic inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis and functional abnormalities of the endothelium suggest that subclinical CV involvement begins soon after the onset of the disease and progresses with disease duration. All cardiac structures may be affected during the course of SADs (valves, the conduction system, the myocardium, endocardium and pericardium, and coronary arteries), and the cardiac complications have a variety of clinical manifestations. As these are all associated with an unfavourable prognosis, it is essential to detect subclinical cardiac involvement in asymptomatic SAD patients, and begin adequate management and treatment early.

No increased occurrence of ischemic heart disease prior to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis: results from two Swedish population-based rheumatoid arthritis cohorts

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relative importance of shared etiologies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in terms of the well-known increased risk of IHD in patients with RA, by assessing the occurrence of IHD up until the time of the onset of the first symptoms of RA.

METHODS

We assessed the prevalence of a history of IHD, myocardial infarction (MI), and angina pectoris before the onset of RA symptoms in 2 large population-based case-control studies. Patients with newly diagnosed RA according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were included as cases. We used data from the Swedish Early Arthritis Register study and the Swedish Epidemiologic Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis case-control study and from general population controls. Information on IHD, MI, and angina pectoris was obtained from the nationwide Hospital Discharge Register and from self reports. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to compare the prevalence of a history of IHD/MI/angina pectoris among patients with RA with that among population controls.

RESULTS

We could not detect any increased occurrence of IHD, MI, or angina pectoris before the onset of symptoms of RA, regardless of whether data on IHD were obtained from the Hospital Discharge Register or were self reported. As detected in the Hospital Discharge Register, the OR for IHD overall was 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.1), the OR for MI was 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.1), and the OR for angina pectoris was 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.2).

CONCLUSION

Shared risk factors or susceptibilities for RA and IHD are likely to contribute less than RA-related factors to the increased occurrence of IHD in patients with manifest RA. Nonetheless, the existence of shared factors associated with longer latency until the occurrence of IHD cannot be excluded.

Association between anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and ischemic heart disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease that may not always be related to the presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine if anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with RA.

METHODS

Anti-CCP antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the earliest serum sample available from 937 patients with a diagnosis of RA. We studied the relationship between anti-CCP antibodies with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

We found positive anti-CCP antibodies (>25 units/ml) in 672 patients (71.7%). There was no association between the anti-CCP antibodies and cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, being overweight, or diabetes mellitus. However, patients who had positive anti-CCP antibodies experienced more frequent ischemic heart disease (6.5% versus 2.6%; odds ratio [OR] 2.58, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.17-5.65) and had higher mortality rates (11.2% versus 6.8%; OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.01-2.91). Similar results were obtained when we considered anti-CCP titers 20-fold higher (>500 units/ml). Multivariable analysis showed that ischemic heart disease is independently associated with positive anti-CCP antibodies (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.19-6.56; P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Anti-CCP antibodies in patients with RA are independently associated with the development of ischemic heart disease.

Inflammatory lipids as a target for therapy in the rheumatic diseases

As patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases live longer due to improved therapies and preventive measures, death and disability from cardiovascular events are increasing. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus have an increased risk of atherosclerosis that persists even after accounting for traditional cardiac risk factors. Recent studies strongly suggest that the mechanism is due in part to increased levels of oxidized lipids (such as oxidized low density lipoprotein and pro-inflammatory high density lipoproteins) which cause the inflammatory cascade that ultimately leads to plaque formation. The objective of this review is to discuss how inflammatory lipids contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as to propose that these oxidized lipids are a rational target for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune diseases. Published literature was examined to review treatments for pro-inflammatory lipids in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In conclusion, it is possible that these oxidized lipids may also contribute to increased disease manifestations in rheumatic conditions. Several new and existing therapies, including statins and high density lipoprotein-associated protein peptide mimetics such as D-4F (apoA-1) target these oxidized lipids and may be useful in both preventing atherosclerosis and treating inflammation in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Carotid intima-media thickness predicts the development of cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To establish whether carotid intima-media wall thickness (IMT) may be a good predictor for the development of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

A series of 47 RA patients who at the time of recruitment did not have traditional CV risk factors or CV disease were assessed by carotid ultrasonography. Carotid IMT and carotid plaques were measured in the right common carotid artery. Then, a prospective assessment of the CV outcome was performed over a 5-year period. Logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic curves were performed to evaluate the ability of different variables to predict CV events.

RESULTS

Carotid IMT was greater in RA patients who over the extended follow-up experienced CV events (1.01 +/- 0.16 mm) compared with the remaining RA patients who did not have CV complications (0.74 +/- 0.12 mm) (P < 0.001). Also, carotid IMT categorized in quartiles was strongly associated with CV events. In this regard, none of the patients with carotid IMT less than 0.77 mm had CV events. However, 6 of the 10 patients with carotid IMT greater than 0.91 mm experienced CV events (P value for the trend <0.001). Carotid IMT yielded a high predictive power for the development of CV events over the 5-year follow-up period. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.93 for a model that only included carotid IMT and 0.90 for carotid plaque.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from the present study support the use of carotid ultrasonography as a predictor of CV events in RA.