Response to anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha blockade is associated with reduction of carotid intima-media thickness in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2007 Jul;46(7):1111-5. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kem089. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blockers may reduce carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) steadily responsive to such therapy.

Methods: From 287 consecutive RA patients attending our out-patient clinic and diagnosed on the basis of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, 49 without traditional cardiovascular risk factors and meeting the requirements for TNF-alpha blockers therapy were selected. Among them, 39 actually started TNF-alpha blockers, but only 30, who reached at least a response on the ACR 20% improvement criteria at 14 weeks, maintained during the whole year of treatment, were finally considered (group A). The remaining 10/49, homogeneous for age, sex, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, socioeconomic status, disease activity and duration, who did not consent to TNF-alpha-blocker administration, were used as controls (group B). Disease activity score in 44 joints (DAS44), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated before starting the study, and 3, 6, 12 months thereafter; cIMT was measured by ultrasound before and 12 months thereafter only.

Results: Patients in group A showed a very significant cIMT reduction (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, on the right and left side, respectively), preceded by an early and lasting significant decrease in DAS44, ESR and CRP. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between cIMT and DAS44 (r = 0.435, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that TNF-alpha blockade is associated with cIMT reduction in RA patients steadily responsive to therapy, probably by lowering inflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / diagnostic imaging
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / complications
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery, Common / diagnostic imaging
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Infliximab
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Tunica Intima / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Media / diagnostic imaging
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Infliximab
  • Etanercept