Artery Research

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Volume 16, Issue C, December 2016, Pages 53 - 54

4.1 TNF- ANTAGONISTS IMPROVE ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A META-ANALYSIS

Authors
Georgios Georgiopoulos2, Dimitrios Terentes-Printzios2, Charalambos Vlachopoulos2, Athanasios Gravos2, Panagiota Pietri2, Christos Georgakopoulos2, Kimon Stamatelopoulos1, Dimitrios Tousoulis2
1Department of Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Greece
2Peripheral Vessels Units, 1st Cardiology Department, Hippokration Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Available Online 24 November 2016.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2016.10.020How to use a DOI?
Abstract

Purpose/Background/Objectives: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher arterial stiffness than their age-matched healthy counterparts and an increased inflammatory burden that might be associated with their increased cardiovascular risk. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-antagonists have been found to reduce inflammatory markers in RA however it is debatable if they have favorable effects on surrogate markers of cardiovascular outcomes. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effect of TNF-antagonists on arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality, in RA patients.

Methods: A search of PUBMED was conducted to identify studies into the effect of TNF-antagonists on arterial stiffness in RA patients. Data were available on 3 TNF-antagonists: infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept.

Results: 10 studies (n=208 patients) out of 14 eligible studies in total, measured changes in carotid-femoral PWV after treatment with anti-TNFs. Subjects under therapy with anti-TNFs significantly decreased their arterial stiffness (mean change in PWV: -0.53 m/s, p=0.001)(Figure). No significant heterogeneity was observed across the studies (I2=8.5%, p=0.364). By subgroup analysis, improvement in PWV after therapy was independent of age, sex, nationality and clinical response to treatment and dependent of the type of the TNF- antagonist used.

Conclusions: The balance of evidence suggests that TNF-antagonists may have a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness in RA patients. Given the predictive role of aortic stiffness for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, TNF-antagonists might confer reduction of the cardiovascular risk of these patients beyond their anti-inflammatory effect. However, larger longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm recent findings.

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
16 - C
Pages
53 - 54
Publication Date
2016/11/24
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2016.10.020How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Georgios Georgiopoulos
AU  - Dimitrios Terentes-Printzios
AU  - Charalambos Vlachopoulos
AU  - Athanasios Gravos
AU  - Panagiota Pietri
AU  - Christos Georgakopoulos
AU  - Kimon Stamatelopoulos
AU  - Dimitrios Tousoulis
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/11/24
TI  - 4.1 TNF- ANTAGONISTS IMPROVE ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A META-ANALYSIS
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 53
EP  - 54
VL  - 16
IS  - C
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2016.10.020
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2016.10.020
ID  - Georgiopoulos2016
ER  -