Abstract

Subclinical atherosclerosis is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as chronic systemic inflammation leads to accelerate atherosclerosis and increase arterial stiffness in theses patients. This study aimed to evaluate the association of serum interleukin-6 (sIL-6) and serum pentraxin 3(sPTX3) with subclinical atherosclerotic in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Sixty patients with recent onset RA (12-24 months) and 20 controls were investigated. Carotid ultrasound examination, assays for lipid profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor, sPTX3 and sIL-6 were done. RA patients demonstrated significantly higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) values and increased carotid plaques than the control (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively). Levels of ESR, CRP, sPTX 3 and sIL-6 were significantly higher in RA patients than controls. RA related risk factors (disease duration, CRP, ESR, and duration of treatment with steroids), as well as sPTX 3, sIL-6 and cIMT were significantly higher in RA with atherosclerotic carotid plaques compared to those without atherosclerotic carotid plaques (all < 0.05). It is concluded that accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with recent-onset RA is associated with elevated levels of CRP, sPTX 3 and sIL-6.