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Factors correlated with the improvement of endothelial dysfunction during Abatacept therapy in patients with

Maurizio Benucci1, Francesca Bandinelli1, Arianna Damiani1

  • 1Rheumatology Unit, Hospital S. Giovanni di Dio, Azienda USL-Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy.

Journal of Inflammation Research
|June 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Abatacept treatment stabilized endothelial function in rheumatoid arthritis patients, with no changes in carotid intimal thickness or brachial artery dilation. Disease activity markers significantly decreased during the study.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients face elevated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, even early in the disease course.
  • RA is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.
  • Early detection and management of cardiovascular risk in RA are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of Abatacept treatment on endothelial function in RA patients.
  • To evaluate changes in carotid common intimal media thickness (ccIMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) during Abatacept therapy.
  • To correlate vascular parameters with disease activity and inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 45 RA patients without prior CVD received Abatacept 125 mg/week for 12 months.
  • Carotid common intimal media thickness (ccIMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured at baseline (T0) and 12 months (T1).
  • Clinical and laboratory parameters, including disease activity score, inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL-6, CRP, ESR), and lymphocyte subsets, were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Abatacept treatment maintained stable ccIMT and FMD.
  • Significant reductions in disease activity score, CRP, ESR, and IL-6 were observed.
  • Baseline ccIMT correlated inversely with TNFα; at T1, ccIMT correlated with CD3/CD8+ lymphocytes, and FMD correlated with CRP.

Conclusions:

  • Abatacept treatment effectively reduces disease activity and inflammation in RA patients.
  • Endothelial function, assessed by ccIMT and FMD, remained stable during Abatacept therapy.
  • These findings suggest Abatacept may not adversely affect vascular health and could potentially contribute to cardiovascular risk reduction in RA.
Abstract

Keywords:
Abataceptcardiovascular diseaserheumatoid arthritis

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