Arthritis and CV disease
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis patients are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy June 29. C-reactive protein is an example of the type of inflammatory mechanisms elevated in RA, Kenneth Warrington, MD, Mayo Clinic, et al., state. The retrospective case control study evaluated 203 patients with coronary artery disease 75 of whom also had rheumatoid arthritis. A coronary angiography was performed for evaluation of CAD within the first 12 months of the disease. The authors found "a trend for increased CV death in patients with RA," while the overall rate of non-fatal CV events was similar for both groups...