Carotid intima-media thickness in women with rheumatoid arthritis: relationship with lipid profile and inflammation
نویسندگان
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Social departments of health research center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4 Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5 Department of radiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
6 Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
7 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
8 mashhad university of medical science
doi
10.32592/RR.2025.10.2.29چکیده
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) serving as a potential marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate carotid IMT in women with RA and its relationship with lipid profiles and inflammation. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 45 female RA patients and 27 healthy controls at the Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad, Iran. Disease activity was assessed using the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), and IMT was measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Quantitative variables were analyzed using Student’s t-test, with adjustments for confounding factors where applicable. No significant differences were observed in carotid IMT between the RA and control groups. However, the left carotid IMT was significantly higher in RA patients under 50 years of age compared to controls (P = 0.05). A positive correlation was found between carotid IMT and age (r = 0.453, P = 0.001). Lipid profiles in RA patients showed lower LDL and cholesterol levels but higher HDL levels compared to controls. Carotid IMT may not be a definitive marker for cardiovascular risk in RA patients, particularly in those with low to moderate disease activity. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the role of carotid IMT in assessing cardiovascular risk.
