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Subclinical coronary artery disease in Asian rheumatoid arthritis patients who were in remission: a pilot study

N Hanim Ma1, C L Teh, A Rapaee

  • 1Cardiology Department, Sarawak General Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysia.

International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
|August 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in remission showed no increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in this pilot study. Further research is needed to confirm if RA significantly elevates CAD risk in Asian populations.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular events, especially in patients with active disease and longer duration.
  • Subclinical atherosclerosis detection in RA patients is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) in Asian RA patients in remission using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).
  • To evaluate pulse wave velocity (PWV) and biomarkers (NT-proBNP, hs-CRP) for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative cross-sectional study involving 47 RA patients in remission and a control group.
  • All participants underwent 64-slice MDCT, arterial stiffness assessment (SphygmoCor), and blood analysis for NT-proBNP and hs-CRP.

Main Results:

  • Out of 94 total patients, 19.1% of RA patients and 6.4% of controls showed evidence of CAD on MDCT (P=0.06).
  • No significant association was found between PWV and CAD presence in RA patients.
  • No significant correlation was observed between PWV and NT-proBNP or hs-CRP levels in RA patients.

Conclusions:

  • This pilot study suggests RA remission may not be associated with increased CAD risk in Asian patients.
  • The small sample size limits definitive conclusions; larger studies are required to validate these findings.
Abstract

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