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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Long-term anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy reverses the progression of carotid intima–media thickness in female patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
Francesco CicciaGiovani TrioloGaspare ParrinelloImpastato RAnnarita GiardinaLicata GGino AvelloneAngelo FerranteE Giardinasubject
AdultCarotid Artery Diseasesmedicine.medical_specialtyImmunologyTNFGastroenterologyArthritis RheumatoidRheumatologyInternal medicineRheumatoid arthritis TNF DMARDs AtherosclerosisFemale patientmedicineHumansImmunology and AllergyRheumatoid arthritiUltrasonographyTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaVascular diseasebusiness.industryAntagonistMiddle AgedAtherosclerosismedicine.diseaseRheumatologySurgerySettore MED/16 - ReumatologiaDMARDMethotrexateTreatment OutcomeIntima-media thicknessAntirheumatic AgentsRheumatoid arthritiscardiovascular systemDrug Therapy CombinationFemaleMethotrexateTumor necrosis factor alphaTunica IntimaTunica Mediabusinessmedicine.drugdescription
The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of TNF inhibition on carotid thickness over a 2-year period. 144 women with RA diagnosed according to ACR criteria, without clinical evidence of cardiac and/or vascular disease were enrolled and compared with 78 matched controls. All patients received methotrexate (15–20 mg weekly) for 3 months. Responders (n = 79) continued to be treated with methotrexate, non-responders (n = 40) moved to methotrexate plus a TNF alpha antagonist. Echosonographic studies of carotids were obtained before and after 2-year follow-up. A significant decrease of ca-IMT was observed in anti-TNF-treated patients (P < 0.001); on the other hand, no significant variation of ca-IMT was observed after 2 years in MTX-treated patients. Our study indicates that anti-TNF blocking agents, but not methotrexate, are capable of reducing IMT of carotid arteries in female RA patients in a 2-year follow-up.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-01-01 | Rheumatology International |