0000000000740172

AUTHOR

Zeynep Ozbalkan

Atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype and LDL size and subclasses in drug-naïve patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract Objective : Subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased cardiovascular risk and may show atherogenic forms of dyslipidemia. The present study investigated whether patients with early RA, beyond alterations in plasma lipids, also show lower LDL size and altered LDL subclass distribution. Design and Methods We identified 25 subjects with RA (47±8 years, body mass index (BMI) 25±4kg/m 2 ) by the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria, with a disease durations Results As compared to controls RA patients had higher plasma triglycerides (1.8±0.5 vs. 1.0±0.5mmol/L, p p =0.0027), while total- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were similar. LDL particle size was lo…

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An update on the relationships between rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Cardiovascular events are the most important cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Beyond the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, chronic systemic inflammation has been shown to be a crucial factor in atherosclerosis development and progression from endothelial dysfunction to plaque rupture and thrombosis. Many studies have shown that atherosclerosis is not a passive event like accumulation of lipids in the vessel walls; by contrast, it represents an active inflammation of the vessels. Inflammatory cells such as macrophages, monocytes and T cells play important roles in the development of both rhe…

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Recent insights into the relationship between inflammatory liver diseases and atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic process in the human body. Many studies have evaluated atherosclerosis and its relationship with other systems in the body. Our perception of its pathogenesis is evolving with the introduction of new players in the game. It is no longer possible to consider the atherosclerosis as an independent process, unaffected by the liver and its function. Although several tasks performed by the liver, such as lipid metabolism, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the role of other disorders of the liver (autoimmune diseases, viral hepatitis, and cirrhosis) are not fully understood. In this review, the most commonly encountered inflammatory liver di…

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