SUBCLINICAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND TYPES OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Keywords:
cIMT (carotid intima-media ratio), CV risk (cardiovascular risk) ECS (extracranial vessels), RA (seropositive rheumatoid arthritis), CCA (common carotid artery)Abstract
Sonographic evaluation of cIMT and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques is an easy and affordable
method to evaluate the different cohorts of patients in our daily practice. In addition to diagnostic screening, it is
also a therapeutic control method that can be used to detect vessel occlusions, to assess the vascular wall,
atherosclerotic changes, to follow their patency, to assess CV risk (cIMT), etc. The general pathogenetic
mechanisms
between joint and vascular inflammation are the unifying factor of these conditions. 69 patients were examined, of
which: 34 patients had seropositive RA (average age: 38.74±7 years), 35 were healthy individuals (control group) –
(average age: 36.93±5.93 years). It was found that 32% of patients with RA (seropositive rheumatoid arthritis) have
subclinical atherosclerosis, which is asymptomatic. In addition, atherosclerotic plaques, mostly of the 1st, 2nd and
3rd types, are present, not occluding the ECS (extracranial vessels).
Keywords: cIMT (carotid intima-media ratio), CV risk (cardiovascular risk), ECS (extracranial vessels), RA
(seropositive rheumatoid arthritis), CA (common carotid artery)
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