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Abstract
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. chronic inflammation may impair arterial function and lead to an increase of arterial stiffness, an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. Objective: To determine the relationship between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and increased arterial stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods: The study included 90 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 45 healthy age and sex-matched controls. Patients were subjected to full history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory investigations including serum lipid profile and hs-CRP measurements and plain x-rays of hands and feet. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to detect aortic stiffness parameters. Ultrasound imaging of both common carotid arteries was performed to detect intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid stiffness parameters. Results: RA patients had increased carotid stiffness compared to control group and showed statistically significant lower values regarding aortic distensibility (p 0.002). No statistically significant correlation was found between hs-CRP and aortic stiffness parameters. As regards disease duration, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between disease duration and intima media thickness (p<0.01) as well as with different carotid stiffness parameters. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between age of patients and carotid stiffness parameters. Conclusion: RA is associated with increase of carotid and aortic stiffness. Duration of disease and age of patients correlated significantly with increased carotid stiffness parameters