Multiple factors determine the increased prevalence of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease that presents not only involvement of joints but also endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and premature atherosclerosis. The death rate in RA is known to be higher than in the general population and clinical cardiovascular events secondary to atherosclerosis are responsible for the excessive death rate. A better understanding of the mechanisms that take part in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in RA patients is needed. Thus, the authors review the role of several factors involved in RA atherosclerosis, including disease activity, new cardiovascular risk factors, dyslipidemia and the association of atherosclerosis with the use of anti-rheumatic drugs, glucocorticoids and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. The role of humoral autoimmunity, namely autoantibodies against heat shock proteins, cardiolipin and beta2-glycoprotein I, and its link with atherosclerosis is also discussed. It is likely that the elucidation of the key mechanisms of atherogenesis in RA may determine a positive impact by reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of these patients.