Article
Rheumatology
Tate M. Johnson, Harlan R. Sayles, Joshua F. Baker, Michael D. George, Punyasha Roul, Cheng Zheng, Brian Sauer, Katherine P. Liao, Daniel R. Anderson, Ted R. Mikuls, Bryant R. England
Summary: In patients with RA, the use of MTX was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, particularly HF-related hospitalizations. However, this association was not mediated through reductions in RA disease activity, suggesting that MTX may modify CVD risk in this population through alternative mechanisms.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Karel Hloch, Martin Dosedel, Jurjen Duintjer Tebbens, Lenka Zaloudkova, Helena Medkova, Jiri Vlcek, Tomas Soukup, Petr Pavek
Summary: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who discontinue methotrexate treatment are at a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality, highlighting the importance of stricter cardiovascular disease control in cases of methotrexate discontinuation.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Diana Popescu, Elena Rezus, Minerva Codruta Badescu, Nicoleta Dima, Petronela Nicoleta Seritean Isac, Ioan-Teodor Dragoi, Ciprian Rezus
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor and is associated with traditional risk factors such as smoking, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and obesity. Recent studies have identified markers like serum homocysteine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, or carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) as predictors of cardiovascular risk in RA. Although the introduction of biological therapy has brought new perspectives, early detection of atherosclerosis and targeted therapies are crucial for reducing cardiovascular risk in RA patients.
Review
Biology
Elena Rezus, Luana Andreea Macovei, Alexandra Maria Burlui, Anca Cardoneanu, Ciprian Rezus
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to inflammation and disease activity. Treatment of RA should focus not only on disease control, but also on targeting inflammation to prevent CVD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeneen Panezai, Ambereen Ghaffar, Mohammad Altamash, Mikael Aberg, Thomas E. Van Dyke, Anders Larsson, Per-Erik Engstrom
Summary: Periodontal disease enhances the expression of CVD-related biomarkers in RA patients through shared pathological clusters, concurrently enhancing metabolic and skeletal disease protein interactions, independent of autoimmune status.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Aikaterini Arida, Aigli-Ioanna Legaki, Evrydiki Kravvariti, Athanasios Protogerou, Petros P. Sfikakis, Antonios Chatzigeorgiou
Summary: The study reveals the significant role of the PCSK9/LDLR system in atherosclerosis related to rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting its potential use as a screening tool for disease progression in the future.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Nuria Barbarroja, Miriam Ruiz-Ponce, Laura Cuesta-Lopez, Carlos Perez-Sanchez, Chary Lopez-Pedrera, Ivan Arias-de La Rosa, Eduardo Collantes-Estevez
Summary: Liver disease is a significant cause of increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Inflammation and the accumulation of fat in the liver can lead to hepatic damage, progressing to fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, which are closely associated with cardiovascular disease. Patients with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis have a higher risk of liver disease compared to the general population, possibly due to chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, treatments, and metabolic deregulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Siddharth Jain, Varun Dhir, Amita Aggarwal, Ranjan Gupta, Bidyalaxmi Leishangthem, Shankar Naidu, Aastha Khullar, Supriya Maurya, Veena Dhawan, Shefali Khanna Sharma, Aman Sharma, Sanjay Jain
Summary: This study compared the efficacy and safety of different dose escalation strategies of oral MTX in RA patients over a period of 16-24 weeks. The results showed that a faster escalation strategy was not more effective than the usual strategy, but was associated with higher gastrointestinal adverse events in the initial phase.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Eleana Bolla, Nikolaos Tentolouris, Petros P. Sfikakis, Maria G. Tektonidou
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients and its associations with cardiovascular risk biomarkers, physical activity, and subclinical atherosclerosis. The results showed that MetS was present in approximately one-fourth of APS patients and was associated with arterial thrombosis, cardiovascular risk biomarkers, physical activity, and subclinical atherosclerosis. This suggests that MetS plays an important role in cardiovascular risk stratification and management in APS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Andrea Giachi, Massimo Cugno, Roberta Gualtierotti
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis is not only related to joint issues, but also to cardiovascular disease. Chronic inflammation plays a key role in accelerating atherosclerosis. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs can improve cardiovascular risk.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chiara Baldini, Francesca Romana Moriconi, Sara Galimberti, Peter Libby, Raffaele De Caterina
Summary: Inflammation plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases, and targeting the JAK-STAT pathway in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms may reduce cardiovascular risk. Disruption of the JAK-STAT pathway can lead to imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as over-expression of prothrombotic proteins, contributing to cardiovascular events. JAK-STAT inhibitors have the potential to mitigate heightened cardiovascular risk in patients with RA and MPNs, but further studies are needed to assess their safety and efficacy in preventing cardiovascular events.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Ana Carolina de Figueiredo Costa, Luane Macedo de Sousa, Joana Maria dos Santos Alves, Paula Goes, Karuza Maria Alves Pereira, Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes Alves, Mariana Lima Vale, Delane Viana Gondim
Summary: The study found that QT and/or MX therapy could alleviate inflammatory symptoms in a rat model of arthritis, and the hepatotoxicity induced by MX could be improved through combination therapy with QT. However, MX had a downregulation effect on IL-10. QT has the potential to support MX therapy and exhibit anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects in this model.
Article
Rheumatology
Paul Studenic, Daniel Aletaha, Maarten de Wit, Tanja A. Stamm, Farideh Alasti, Diane Lacaille, Josef S. Smolen, David T. Felson
Summary: This study aimed to externally validate a revised Boolean remission criteria using a higher patient global assessment (PtGA) threshold and validate the provisionally endorsed index-based criteria. The results showed that using the higher PtGA threshold increased the proportion of patients classified as achieving remission under the "Boolean2.0" criteria, improved agreement with index-based criteria, and did not compromise predictive value for radiographic or functional outcomes. The study findings were endorsed by ACR and EULAR.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
George A. Karpouzas, Sarah R. Ormseth, Elizabeth Hernandez, Matthew J. Budoff
Summary: In this study, statin therapy was associated with lower long-term cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients, especially those with higher inflammation levels. Additionally, statin therapy modified the impact of inflammation on new coronary plaque formation and predicted regression and calcification of prevalent noncalcified lesions.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angelo Zinellu, Arduino A. Mangoni
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between plasma/serum concentrations of uric acid and allantoin and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It finds that while there were no significant differences in uric acid concentrations between RA patients and healthy controls, the concentrations of allantoin were significantly higher in RA patients. Further research is needed to explore the connection between uric acid, allantoin, redox balance, and cardiovascular disease in this population.