Methotrexate use, not interleukin 33, is associated with lower carotid intima-media thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a risk factor for early mortality due to cardiovascular disease. Interleukin-33 appears to protect against the development of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of interleukin-33 and its soluble receptor with the presence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods: Rheumatoid arthritis patients without atherosclerotic disease were subjected to clinical and laboratory assessments, including carotid ultrasound. Interleukin-33 and its soluble receptor serum levels were measured by ELISA. Results: 102 patients were included. The prevalence of carotid plaques was 23.5% and the median intima-media thickness was 0.7 mm. The median interleukin-33 and its soluble receptor concentration was 69.1 and 469.8 pg/ml. No association was found between serum interleukin-33 or its soluble receptor and intima-media thickness or plaque occurrence. Each 0.1 mm increase of intima-media thickness raised the odds of plaque occurrence by 5.3-fold, and each additional year of rheumatoid arthritis duration increased the odds of plaque occurrence by 6%. Each additional year in patients age and each one-point increase in the Framingham Risk Score were associated with a 0.004 mm and 0.012 mm increase in intima-media thickness. Methotrexate use was associated with a 0.07 mm reduction in intima-media thickness. Conclusions: Interleukin-33 and its soluble receptor were not associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis duration were associated with intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence; methotrexate use was associated with a lower intima-media thickness.

Hemorragia alveolar difusa no lúpus sistêmico: adversário duro, não imbatível / Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in the systemic lupus erythematosus: a hard, but not invincible opponent

Hemorragia alveolar é afecção clínica grave e com alta taxa de mortalidade. Pode ocorrer em indivíduos com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e a instituição de imunossupressão precoce é medida salvadora. Como é de diagnóstico difícil, sua condução clínica é um desafio. No presente artigo relata-se a experiência recente com dois pacientes e as recomendações de terapêutica, segundo revisão de literatura médica.

Alveolar hemorrhage is a severe clinical disease with high rate of mortality. It can affect individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus, and early immunosuppression is a life-saving measure. However, the difficulty of diagnosis is a challenge for clinical handling of the disease. This paper reports on a recent experience with two patients, and provides treatment recommendations drawing on a review of the literature.