Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
07:37

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice

Published on: June 6, 2025

Cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis: state of the art and future perspectives

George D Kitas1, Sherine E Gabriel

  • 1Department of Rheumatology, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Clinical Research Unit, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, UK. gd.kitas@dgoh.nhs.uk

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|November 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

People with rheumatoid arthritis face higher cardiovascular risks. Inflammation and traditional factors like hypertension contribute, but more research is needed for better prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly elevates the risk of cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke.
  • Traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, altered body composition) are insufficient to fully account for this excess risk in RA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the contribution of high-grade systemic inflammation and its interaction with classic risk factors in RA-associated cardiovascular disease.
  • To investigate the biological mechanisms underlying potentially counterintuitive associations between risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes in RA.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological evidence and existing literature on cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Analysis of the interplay between systemic inflammation and established cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Systemic inflammation is a key factor contributing to the elevated cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Observed associations between classic risk factors and cardiovascular risk in RA may be explained by underlying biological alterations specific to the disease.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the complex interplay between inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors is crucial for managing RA patients.
  • Further research is essential to elucidate precise mechanisms, improve risk stratification, and develop targeted prevention strategies for cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis.

Related Concept Videos

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management01:21

Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) management can be divided into two main strategies: prevention and long-term management.Primary PreventionPrimary prevention focuses on timely diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to prevent acute rheumatic fever. The most widely used antibiotic for treating this condition is intramuscular benzathine penicillin G.Acute Rheumatic Fever TreatmentThe primary treatment goal for a patient diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever is to suppress the...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management01:20

Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management

AssessmentA comprehensive assessment is essential in managing a patient with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Begin with obtaining a detailed medical history, including recent streptococcal infections, a history of rheumatic fever, or previously diagnosed rheumatic heart disease. Assess the patient for symptoms such as fever, chest pain, widespread joint pain (arthralgia), tachycardia, pericardial friction rub, muffled heart sounds, heart murmurs, peripheral edema, subcutaneous nodules, and...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...