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The inextricable link between atherosclerosis and prototypical inflammatory diseases rheumatoid arthritis and

Louise E Full1, Cristina Ruisanchez, Claudia Monaco

  • 1Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK. l.full05@imperial.ac.uk

Arthritis Research & Therapy
|May 14, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus face higher cardiovascular disease risks due to inflammation and proatherogenic factors. This review details the key determinants driving atherosclerosis in these inflammatory conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus significantly increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Proatherogenic factors and chronic inflammation are key contributors to CVD in these patients.
  • Shared molecular pathways between atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases warrant investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the key determinants of increased cardiovascular disease incidence in patients with inflammatory diseases.
  • To elucidate the steps of atherogenesis in the context of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
  • To highlight the interplay between inflammatory disease and atherosclerotic processes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways common to atherosclerosis and inflammatory conditions.
  • Mapping of determinants across the stages of atherogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Inflammation and proatherogenic risk factors are central to enhanced atherosclerosis.
  • Specific molecular pathways link inflammatory and atherosclerotic processes.
  • Key determinants identified at each stage of atherogenesis contribute to elevated CVD risk.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the determinants of atherogenesis in inflammatory diseases is crucial for risk stratification.
  • Targeting shared inflammatory and atherosclerotic pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research is needed to mitigate cardiovascular complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

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