Effects of Methotrexate on Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Journal of Korean Medical Science
;
: 1589-1596, 2015.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-66177
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and antirheumatic drugs on atherosclerosis by comparing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) as an indicator for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study included 44 female RA patients who met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and age-matched 22 healthy females. CIMT was measured on both carotid arteries using a B-mode ultrasound scan. The mean value of both sides was taken as the CIMT of the subject. The CIMT was evaluated according to the use of drugs, disease activity and CVD risk factors in RA patients as a case-control study. Higher CIMT was observed in RA patients as compared with healthy subjects (0.705 +/- 0.198 mm, 0.611 +/- 0.093 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). With adjustment for the CVD risk factors, disease activity and the use of anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate (MTX) only showed a favorable effect on CIMT in RA. A significantly lower CIMT was observed in RA with MTX as compared with RA without MTX (0.644 +/- 0.136 mm, 0.767 +/- 0.233 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). The effects were correlated with MTX dosage (beta = -0.029, P < 0.01). The use of MTX should be considered in high priority not only to control arthritis but also to reduce the RA-related CVD risk to mortality.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
/
Carotid Artery Diseases
/
Comorbidity
/
Methotrexate
/
Incidence
/
Causality
/
Reproducibility of Results
/
Risk Factors
/
Sensitivity and Specificity
/
Antirheumatic Agents
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Journal of Korean Medical Science
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
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