scholarly journals Association between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and the Use of Biological or Small Molecule Therapies in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Marta Rojas-Giménez ◽  
Clementina López-Medina ◽  
Jerusalem Calvo-Gutiérrez ◽  
María Ángeles Puche-Larrubia ◽  
Ignacio Gómez-García ◽  
...  

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the association of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and also the presence of atheromatous plaque, with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, in an established cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study based on a cohort of patients with RA and a registry of healthy controls, in whom the CIMT and presence of atheromatous plaque were assessed by ultrasound. Data were collected on disease activity, lab results and treatments. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed and two multivariate linear regression models (with CIMT as the dependent variable) were constructed to identify variables independently associated with CIMT in our sample of patients with RA. Results: A total of 176 individuals (146 patients with RA and 30 controls) were included. A higher percentage of patients than controls had atheromatous plaque (33.8% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.036), but no differences were found in terms of CIMT (0.64 vs. 0.61, p = 0.444). Compared to values in patients on other therapies, the CIMT was smaller among patients on tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors (mean [SD]: 0.58 [0.10] vs. 0.65 [0.19]; p = 0.013) and among those on Janus kinase inhibitors (mean [SD]: 0.52 [0.02] vs. 0.64 [0.18]; p < 0.001), while no differences were found as a function of the use of the other therapies considered. The multivariate linear regression analysis to identify factors associated with CIMT in our patients, adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, high levels of low-density lipoproteins, diabetes mellitus and smoking, showed that male sex, older age and having a greater cumulative erythrocyte sedimentation rate were independently associated with a larger CIMT, while patients on TNFα inhibitors had a CIMT 0.075 mm smaller than those on other treatments. Conclusions: The use of TNFα inhibitors may protect against subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA, patients on this biologic having smaller CIMTs than patients on other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Nonetheless, these results should be confirmed in prospective studies with larger sample sizes.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartłomiej Kisiel ◽  
Robert Kruszewski ◽  
Aleksandra Juszkiewicz ◽  
Anna Raczkiewicz ◽  
Artur Bachta ◽  
...  

Introduction. The risk of cardiovascular disease is increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A meta-analysis showed increased intima media thickness (IMT) in RA. It has been shown that disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may influence the progression of atherosclerosis. However, it was suggested that biologics may be more efficient than other DMARDs (including methotrexate—MTX) in protecting against atherosclerosis.Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different RA characteristics and treatment regimens on IMT and atherosclerotic plaques.Patients and Methods. 317 RA patients and 111 controls were included in the study. IMT was measured in carotid (CIMT) and femoral (FIMT) arteries. Arteries were screened for the presence of plaques.Results. CIMT, FIMT, and prevalence of plaques were lower in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) ≥ 20 mg/wk, cyclosporine (CsA), or biologics than in patients treated with lower doses of MTX and other disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. No differences in IMT between patients treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk, biologics, or CsA were found.Conclusions. We found a beneficial effect of MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk, biologics, and CsA on atherosclerosis. We do not confirm a stronger influence of biologics on IMT compared with therapeutic doses of MTX.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Delia Taverner ◽  
Dídac Llop ◽  
Roser Rosales ◽  
Raimon Ferré ◽  
Luis Masana ◽  
...  

AbstractTo validate in a cohort of 214 rheumatoid arthritis patients a panel of 10 plasmatic microRNAs, which we previously identified and that can facilitate earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients. We identified 10 plasma miRs that were downregulated in male rheumatoid arthritis patients and in patients with acute myocardial infarction compared to controls suggesting that these microRNAs could be epigenetic biomarkers for cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Six of those microRNAs were validated in independent plasma samples from 214 rheumatoid arthritis patients and levels of expression were associated with surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (carotid intima-media thickness, plaque formation, pulse wave velocity and distensibility) and with prior cardiovascular disease. Multivariate analyses adjusted for traditional confounders and treatments showed that decreased expression of microRNA-425-5p in men and decreased expression of microRNA-451 in women were significantly associated with increased (β = 0.072; p = 0.017) and decreased carotid intima-media thickness (β = −0.05; p = 0.013), respectively. MicroRNA-425-5p and microRNA-451 also increased the accuracy to discriminate patients with pathological carotid intima-media thickness by 1.8% (p = 0.036) in men and 3.5% (p = 0.027) in women, respectively. In addition, microRNA-425-5p increased the accuracy to discriminate male patients with prior cardiovascular disease by 3% (p = 0.008). Additionally, decreased expression of microRNA-451 was significantly associated with decreased pulse wave velocity (β = −0.72; p = 0.035) in overall rheumatoid arthritis population. Distensibility showed no significant association with expression levels of the microRNAs studied. We provide evidence of a possible role of microRNA-425-5p and microRNA-451 as useful epigenetic biomarkers to assess cardiovascular disease risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 862.2-863
Author(s):  
M. K. Chung ◽  
J. S. Park ◽  
H. S. Lim ◽  
C. H. Lee ◽  
J. Lee

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) predominantly affects women and has a significant impact on childbearing. Several population-based studies identifying incidence, prevalence, and medication use of RA have been reported, yet epidemiological studies focusing on women with RA in childbearing years are missing.Objectives:We aimed to identify the incidence, prevalence and medication use of RA among Korean women in childbearing years.Methods:From National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data (2009-2016), containing inpatient and outpatient claim information for approximately 97% of the Korean population, we identified 9,217,139 women aged between 20-44 years. Incidence and prevalence of RA in the specific sociodemographic group of women in childbearing age were analyzed, and the prevalence of medication prescription were compared between women with RA and controls without rheumatic diseases such as RA, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ankylosing spondylitis. Individuals with RA were defined by the presence of International Classification of Disease, 10th revision code, M05. The medication use was defined as receiving > 90days prescriptions of NSAIDs, corticosteroids (CSs), and conventional synthetic (cs) disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or > 1day prescription of biologic (b) DMARDs.Results:Total 24,590 women with RA were identified. The average incidence of RA during 2011-2016 among women in childbearing years was 24.1/100,000 person-years (PYs) (95% CI 20.91-27.31) with a yearly increase from 20.99/100,000 PYs in 2011 to 28.38/100,000 PYs in 2016. The average prevalence of RA during 2009-2016 among women in childbearing years was 105.2/100,000 PYs (95% CI 99.0-111.5) with a minimum of 95.7/100,000 PYs in 2009 and a maximum of 110.5/100,000 PYs in 2016. There were increasing trends in both incidence and prevalence of RA according to age among women in childbearing years peaking in the age group of 40-44 years. The prescriptions of NSAIDs, CSs, csDMARDs and bDMARDs were more frequent in women with RA than controls (NSAIDs; 94.21% vs 21.79%, CSs; 83.65% vs 4.28%, csDMARDs; 91.23% vs 0.41%, bDMARDs; 0.11% vs 0%, p<0.001).Conclusion:The incidence and prevalence of RA are high among Korean women in childbearing years, and medication use was significantly more frequent in this specific population than controls. High disease burden is imposed upon women in childbearing years.References:[1] Won S, Cho SK, Kim D, Han M, Lee J, Jang EJ, Sung YK, Bae SC: Update on the prevalence and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in Korea and an analysis of medical care and drug utilization. Rheumatol Int 2018, 38(4):649-656.[2] Smeele HTW, Dolhain R: Current perspectives on fertility, pregnancy and childbirth in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism 2019, 49(3s):S32-s35.Table 1.Medication use among women with RA and controls in childbearing age between 20-44 years during 2009-2016Control(n=155,486)RA(n=23,756)n(%)n(%)PNSAIDs33,887(21.79)22,380(94.21)<.0001Steroids6,653(4.28)19,871(83.65)<.0001csDMARDs634(0.41)21,673(91.23)<.0001bDMARDs0(0.00)27(0.11)<.0001RA, rheumatoid arthritis; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; cs, conventional synthetic; b, biologic; DMARDs, disease modifying antirheumatic drugsDisclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1417.3-1417
Author(s):  
D. Anghel ◽  
L. Otlocan ◽  
R. Bursuc ◽  
E. Busuioc ◽  
A. Manolache ◽  
...  

Background:Homocysteine (Hcy) has been implicated in atherogenesis. High homocysteine level can predict cardiovascular events, including death. Atherosclerosis has a high incidence in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).Objectives:The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum homocysteine levels and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with RA and anti-TNF therapy.Methods:Our study included 80 RA patients divided into two groups: 45 patients were with anti-TNF-alpha therapy (Adalimumab, Infliximab, Etanercept) and 35 RA patients with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The patients were diagnosed with RA used ACR/EULAR 2010 Classification Criteria. We measured carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) using high-resolution Doppler ultrasonography at baseline and then at 12 months. CIMT above 0.9 mm is an atherosclerosis marker. We considered high levels of homocysteine in the serum above 15 µmol/L. All patients had treatment with hypolipemiant drugs and antiplatelet agents during the 12 months. Other parameters were analyzed at baseline and after 12 months: age, lipid profile (HDL, LDL, and cholesterol), ESR and disease activity score (DAS28<2.6 means remission; DAS28=2.6-3.2 means low disease activity, DAS28=3.2-5.1 means moderate disease activity; DAS28>5.1 high disease activity).Results:45 patients received anti-TNF-alpha therapy (mean age 45.50±9.69 years) and 35 RA patients had treatment with DMARDs (mean age 48.3±8.9 years). High Hcy levels were found on 34% patients in DMARDs group and 21% patients in anti-TNF group. After 12 months of treatment, patients with high levels of Hcy and anti-TNF therapy had a significant decrease in CIMT. In patients with low Hcy level the decrease in CIMT was insignificantly statistic. In DMARDs group atherosclerotic plaque was detected to 26 patients (74.29%) and 21 (46.66%) patients were detected into anti-TNF group. After 12 months CIMT was significantly higher in DMARDs group and the difference was statistically significant compared to baseline and to anti-TNF group (p=0.0002). High DAS28 score was associated with increased CIMT and hyperhomocysteinemia in both groups (p=0.0001).Conclusion:Increased Hcy levels were associated with increased CIMT values in both groups. In RA patients with anti-TNF therapy and high Hcy levels, reduction of CIMT was statistically higher than in patients with DMARDs treatment.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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