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Atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis : More than a simple association

Cavagna, Lorenzo ; Boffini, Nicola ; Cagnotto, Giovanni LU orcid ; Inverardi, Flora ; Grosso, Vittorio and Caporali, Roberto (2012) In Mediators of Inflammation 2012. p.1-9
Abstract

In the last decades a large amount of evidence linked rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to atherosclerosis. In fact, RA patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular events that is not fully explained by other classic cardiovascular risk factors. RA and atherosclerosis may share several common pathomechanisms and inflammation undoubtedly plays a primary role. The proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, involved in the pathogenesis of RA, are also independently predictive of subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD). In RA, inflammation alters HDL constituents and the concentration of LDL and HDL, thus facilitating atherosclerosis and CVD events. On the other hand, also the increase of oxidative... (More)

In the last decades a large amount of evidence linked rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to atherosclerosis. In fact, RA patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular events that is not fully explained by other classic cardiovascular risk factors. RA and atherosclerosis may share several common pathomechanisms and inflammation undoubtedly plays a primary role. The proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, involved in the pathogenesis of RA, are also independently predictive of subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD). In RA, inflammation alters HDL constituents and the concentration of LDL and HDL, thus facilitating atherosclerosis and CVD events. On the other hand, also the increase of oxidative processes, frequently observed in RA, induces atherosclerosis. Interestingly, some genetic polymorphisms associated with RA occurrence enhance atherosclerosis, however, other polymorphisms associated with RA susceptibility do not increase CVD risk. Several other mechanisms may influence atherosclerotic processes in RA. Moreover, atherosclerosis may be directly mediated also by underlying autoimmune processes, and indirectly by the occurrence of metabolic syndrome and impaired physical activity. Finally, the effects of RA therapies on cardiovascular system in general and on atherosclerosis in particular are really wide and different. However, the starting point of every RA treatment is that disease control, or better remission, is the best way we have for the reduction of CVD occurrence.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Mediators of Inflammation
volume
2012
article number
147354
pages
1 - 9
publisher
Hindawi Limited
external identifiers
  • pmid:23024462
  • scopus:84867790335
ISSN
0962-9351
DOI
10.1155/2012/147354
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
bd60aac5-75d7-41f2-be87-e65296623114
date added to LUP
2019-07-01 22:08:50
date last changed
2024-06-27 01:12:18
@article{bd60aac5-75d7-41f2-be87-e65296623114,
  abstract     = {{<p>In the last decades a large amount of evidence linked rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to atherosclerosis. In fact, RA patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular events that is not fully explained by other classic cardiovascular risk factors. RA and atherosclerosis may share several common pathomechanisms and inflammation undoubtedly plays a primary role. The proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, involved in the pathogenesis of RA, are also independently predictive of subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD). In RA, inflammation alters HDL constituents and the concentration of LDL and HDL, thus facilitating atherosclerosis and CVD events. On the other hand, also the increase of oxidative processes, frequently observed in RA, induces atherosclerosis. Interestingly, some genetic polymorphisms associated with RA occurrence enhance atherosclerosis, however, other polymorphisms associated with RA susceptibility do not increase CVD risk. Several other mechanisms may influence atherosclerotic processes in RA. Moreover, atherosclerosis may be directly mediated also by underlying autoimmune processes, and indirectly by the occurrence of metabolic syndrome and impaired physical activity. Finally, the effects of RA therapies on cardiovascular system in general and on atherosclerosis in particular are really wide and different. However, the starting point of every RA treatment is that disease control, or better remission, is the best way we have for the reduction of CVD occurrence.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cavagna, Lorenzo and Boffini, Nicola and Cagnotto, Giovanni and Inverardi, Flora and Grosso, Vittorio and Caporali, Roberto}},
  issn         = {{0962-9351}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1--9}},
  publisher    = {{Hindawi Limited}},
  series       = {{Mediators of Inflammation}},
  title        = {{Atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis : More than a simple association}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/147354}},
  doi          = {{10.1155/2012/147354}},
  volume       = {{2012}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}