Endothelial Dysfunction, Rheumatoid Arthritis
Conditions
Keywords
rheumatoid arthritis, endothelial dysfunction, lipoproteins, inflammation, oxidative stress, arterial stiffness
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease by studying inflammation, joint disease, cholesterol abnormalities, and endothelial function.
Detailed description
In the general population, individuals with elevated inflammatory markers (e.g. C-reactive protein, CRP) have increased cardiovascular disease. Patients with RA have chronic elevations in CRP and other inflammatory markers that are usually higher than the levels associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the general population. Indeed, RA patients have accelerated disease of their blood vessels, and increased cardiovascular death not explained by traditional cardiac risk factors but associated with chronic inflammation. However, the mechanisms by which inflammation leads to cardiovascular disease are not well characterized in RA. Moreover, current treatment strategies of RA largely target joint symptoms rather than inflammation, potentially leaving patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Studies of markers that increase the risk of heart disease in the full spectrum of RA are missing. We hypothesize that inflammatory markers will be more strongly associated with abnormalities in blood vessels in RA patients than any clinical measure of disease activity. This hypothesis will be tested with a cross-sectional study of patients in the UCSF RA cohort. Aim 1 will characterize abnormal blood vessel changes across the spectrum of RA disease activity, specifically measuring ultrasound of the upper arm artery, markers of oxidative stress, and abnormalities in cholesterol proteins. Aim 2 will identify factors associated with these changes across the spectrum of RA disease activity, specifically focusing on the association between inflammatory markers, cholesterol, and blood vessel abnormalities.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
University of California, San Francisco
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of RA by ACR criteria * Age 18-80 * Enrolled in UCSF RA cohort already
Exclusion criteria
* Diabetes (on meds or in medical history) * Pregnant or Lactating * Renal failure (Creatinine \> 2mg/dL or on dialysis) * History of MI or CAD * History of ischemic CVA * Symptomatic PVD * Current uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure \> 160/100mmHg) * Daily prednisone \> 10mg daily * Current smoker * New BP med within 3 months * New statin within 3 months * Change in RA meds: new or increase in prednisone within 1 month, new TNF inhibitor within 2 months, titration of methotrexate, leflunomide or sulfasalazine within 3 months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| flow mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery, measured by ultrasound | 1 day |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| pulse wave velocity/arterial stiffness | day 1 |
| lipid metabolism | day 1 |
| pulse ampitude | 1 day |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed