Increased risk of ischemic heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients: possible methotrexate inducted hyperhomocysteinemia

ABSTRACT

A retrospective case-control study including 69 rheumatoid arthritis [RA] patients was conducted. They were all diagnosed and receiving a steady treatment regimen for the last three years at least. They all met the American College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria for the classification of RA17. They were classified into three groups. In addition, a control group of 23 osteoarthritis patients was also included. The study concluded that the plasma levels of homocysteine appear to be increased in RA. However, this increase appears to be of a minor implication in the development of IHD, at least in the early years of the disease. The potent suppressors of inflammation, particularly MTX supplemented with folic acid, decrease the risk of IHD in rheumatoid patients