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Thickened carotid artery intima-media in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with elevated anticardiolipin antibodies

Department of Medicine B and Center of Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

R. Gerli

Rheumatology Unit, University of Perugia, Italy

B. Gilburd

Department of Medicine B and Center of Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

E. Bartoloni Bocci

Rheumatology Unit, University of Perugia, Italy

G. Vaudo

Rheumatology Unit, University of Perugia, Italy, Section of Internal Medicine, Angiology & Atherosclerosis Diseases, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy

E. Mannarino

Rheumatology Unit, University of Perugia, Italy, Section of Internal Medicine, Angiology & Atherosclerosis Diseases, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy

Y. Shoenfeld

Department of Medicine B and Center of Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel, Shoenfel{at}post.tau.ac.il, Incumbent of the Laura Schwartz Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

Antiphospholipid and anti-oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL) antibodies are associated with thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by excess atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to determine whether antiphospholipid and anti-oxLDL antibodies are associated with early atherosclerotic changes in RA. The levels of IgG and IgM anticardiolipin, IgG and IgM anti-beta-2-glycoprotein-I and anti-oxLDL autoantibodies have been evaluated in 82 patients having RA. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured in the carotid arteries in the common carotid, bifurcation and internal carotid arteries. Elevated levels of IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in 17 of 82 (21%) RA patients, including 7 with medium-to-high levels considered being clinically relevant. These patients had significantly elevated mean carotid and carotid bifurcation IMT compared with RA patients without elevated anticardiolipin. No such association was found regarding other autoantibodies tested. Anticardiolipin antibodies are prevalent in RA and are associated with early atherosclerotic changes, supporting a rational for measuring them in RA, and upon detection treat the patients in order to decrease chances of atherosclerosis progression and thrombosis. Lupus (2007) 16, 259—264.

Key Words: anticardiolipin • antiphospholipid antibody • intima-media thickness • rheumatoid arthritis

Lupus, Vol. 16, No. 4, 259-264 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0961203307076697


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