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Angiotensin-Inhibiting Drugs Do Not Impact Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective
Dorien M C F Sluijsmans1,2, Daphne C Rohrich1, Calin D Popa1,3
1Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek, Hengstdal nr 3, 6574 NA Ubbergen, The Netherlands.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) did not affect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity. This study found no significant difference in DAS28-CRP scores or csDMARD dosages between RA patients using ACEi/ARBs and controls.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Background:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are established cardiovascular treatments.
- Emerging evidence suggests potential anti-inflammatory properties for ACEi and ARBs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ACEi and ARBs on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- To determine if ACEi/ARBs use influences the need for conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in RA patients.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing RA patients using ACEi/ARBs with a control group.
- DAS28-CRP scores were the primary outcome measure.
- Dosages of csDMARDs and bDMARDs (in defined daily doses) were secondary outcomes; multiple regression analyses controlled for confounders.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between ACEi or ARBs use and DAS28-CRP scores in RA patients.
- Neither ACEi nor ARBs use was significantly associated with differences in csDMARD dosages.
- A trend towards lower bDMARD dosages was observed in ARBs users (p=0.06), but not in ACEi users.
Conclusions:
- ACEi and ARBs do not appear to impact rheumatoid arthritis disease activity as measured by DAS28-CRP.
- The observed trend of reduced bDMARD use in ARBs users requires further investigation to confirm clinical significance.
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