The role of non-invasive cardiovascular imaging in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: where we are and where we need to be

Inflammation disturbs biochemical pathways involved in homeostasis of the endothelium. Research has established clear links between inflammatory mediators, particularly C-reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor alpha, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis may be subclinical at early stages, and thus the ability to detect them with non-invasive techniques is crucially important, particularly in populations at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, such as those with rheumatoid arthritis. This may allow the identification of interventions that may reverse these processes early on. One of the best non-pharmacological interventions that may achieve this is physical activity. This review explores the associations between inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis and discusses the role of exercise in blocking specific pathways in the inflammation, endothelial dysfunction - atherosclerosis network.

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Precocious Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Role of Traditional and Disease-Related Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1196/annals.1422.038 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1108 (1) ◽

pp. 372-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

R. GERLI ◽

Y. SHERER ◽

E. B. BOCCI ◽

G. VAUDO ◽

S. MOSCATELLI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors

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Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Modalities and the Emerging Role of Magnetic Resonance and Positron Emission Tomography Imaging

Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism ◽

10.1016/j.semarthrit.2011.08.007 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 676-688 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Victoria Furer ◽

Zahi A. Fayad ◽

Venkatesh Mani ◽

Claudia Calcagno ◽

Michael E. Farkouh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Positron Emission Tomography ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Positron Emission Tomography Imaging ◽

Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

Emission Tomography ◽

Tomography Imaging ◽

Positron Emission

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

Clinical Rheumatology ◽

10.1007/s10067-014-2522-5 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 769-774

Author(s):

Yael Luck ◽

Murray Baron ◽

Sonia Bardakjian ◽

Laeora Berkson ◽

Maura Buchignani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors

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Role of Neuroendocrine, Immune, and Autonomic Nervous System in Anorexia Nervosa-Linked Cardiovascular Diseases

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21197302 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (19) ◽

pp. 7302

Author(s):

Nikola Sekaninova ◽

Lucia Bona Olexova ◽

Zuzana Visnovcova ◽

Igor Ondrejka ◽

Ingrid Tonhajzerova

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Complications ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Cardiac Vagal Control ◽

Vascular Activity ◽

Cardiovascular Autonomic Regulation

Anorexia nervosa represents a severe mental disorder associated with food avoidance and malnutrition. In patients suffering from anorexia nervosa, cardiovascular complications are the main reason leading to morbidity and mortality. However, the origin and pathological mechanisms leading to higher cardiovascular risk in anorexia nervosa are still unclear. In this aspect, the issue of exact pathological mechanisms as well as sensitive biomarkers for detection of anorexia nervosa-linked cardiovascular risk are discussed. Therefore, this review synthesised recent evidence of dysfunction in multiple neuroendocrine axes and alterations in the immune system that may represent anorexia nervosa-linked pathological mechanisms contributing to complex cardiovascular dysregulation. Further, this review is focused on identification of non-invasive biomarkers for the assessment of increased cardiovascular risk in anorexia nervosa that can be linked to a clinical application. Complex non-invasive assessment of cardiovascular autonomic regulation—cardiac vagal control (heart rate variability), sympathetic vascular activity (blood pressure variability), and cardiovascular reflex control (baroreflex sensitivity)—could represent a promising tool for early diagnosis, personalized therapy, and monitoring of therapeutic interventions in anorexia nervosa particularly at a vulnerable adolescent age.

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