Open AccessAtherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: Morphologic evidence obtained by carotid ultrasound
Author(s) -
Park YongBeom,
Ahn ChulWoo,
Choi Hyon K.,
Lee SeungHoon,
In ByungHyun,
Lee HyunChul,
Nam ChungMo,
Lee SooKon
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.10359
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , prednisolone , brachial artery , common carotid artery , subclinical infection , cardiology , tunica media , ultrasound , menopause , arthritis , carotid arteries , gastroenterology , radiology , blood pressure
Objective Recent studies have suggested increased cardiovascular disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this study to obtain morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. Methods We used high‐resolution B‐mode ultrasound to compare carotid artery intima‐media wall thickness (IMT) between 53 postmenopausal women with RA and 53 controls matched by age, sex, and menopause status. No subject in either group had a history of atherosclerosis or its complications. We investigated the association between IMT and relevant clinical and therapeutic variables, including the impact of low‐dose corticosteroid therapy (≤10 mg/day prednisolone). Results The mean ± SD IMT of the left and right common carotid arteries in RA patients was significantly greater than that in controls (0.77 ± 0.09 mm versus 0.68 ± 0.14 mm; P < 0.001). Early RA (duration ≤1 year) was associated with lesser IMT than was RA of longer duration (0.72 ± 0.03 mm versus 0.78 ± 0.01 mm; P < 0.04). Prednisolone use was not associated with increased IMT (0.78 ± 0.02 mm in nonusers versus 0.76 ± 0.01 mm in users; P = 0.38). Conclusion Our data indicate that RA patients have an ultrasonic marker of early atherosclerosis consistent with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.