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Inflammation predicts accelerated brachial arterial wall changes in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis
Citation
Hannawi, S and Marwick, TH and Thomas, R, Inflammation predicts accelerated brachial arterial wall changes in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis, Arthritis Research and Therapy, 11, (2) Article R51. ISSN 1478-6362 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2009 The Authors
DOI: doi:10.1186/ar2668
Abstract
Introduction Patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have impaired brachial artery endothelial function compared with controls matched for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. The present study examined endothelium-dependent (flow-mediated dilatation (FMD)) and independent (glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-mediated dilatation (GMD)) structural responses in early RA patients, and determined progress over one year.
Methods Brachial artery FMD and GMD and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) were studied using ultrasound in 20 patients diagnosed with early RA in whom symptoms had been present for less than 12 months, and in 20 control subjects matched for age, sex and established cardiovascular risk factors. FMD and GMD were re-assessed after 12 months in RA patients and the change in each parameter was calculated. Data were analysed by univariate regression.
Results Mean FMD and GMD were significantly lower in early RA patients at baseline than in controls, but each parameter significantly improved in one year. FMD and GMD responses were positively associated with each other. Patients' age, Creactive protein (CRP) level and cIMT at baseline and CRP level at one year, were negatively associated with change in brachial responses in one year.
Conclusions Patients with recent-onset RA have altered brachial artery responses signifying both functional and structural abnormalities. However, early control of inflammation may reduce arterial dysfunction and thus the tendency for atherosclerotic progression.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
Research Group: | Cardiovascular medicine and haematology |
Research Field: | Cardiology (incl. cardiovascular diseases) |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Clinical health |
Objective Field: | Clinical health not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Marwick, TH (Professor Tom Marwick) |
ID Code: | 90782 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 50 |
Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
Deposited On: | 2014-04-23 |
Last Modified: | 2014-05-05 |
Downloads: | 309 View Download Statistics |
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