Anti-TNF-Alpha-Adalimumab Therapy Is Associated with Persistent Improvement of Endothelial Function without Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Wall Thickness in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Refractory to Conventional Therapy

Table 1

Changes in DAS28, CRP, and ultrasonography data in 34 patients undergoing anti-TNF-alpha-adalimumab therapy due to RA refractory to conventional DMARDs.

Day 0

Day 14

Month 12

Day 0 verus Day 14

Day 0 versus Month 12

Variable

Mean

±SD

Median

(IQR)

Mean

±SD

Median

(IQR)

Mean

±SD

Median

(IQR)

𝑃

𝑃

FMD%

4.5

±4.0

3.6

(2.1–7.0)

6.1

±3.9

5.7

(2.9–8.7)

7.4

±2.8

6.9

(5.4–9.2)

0.03

<0.001

NTG%

19.3

±7.5

19.5

(14.8–24.2)

20.1

±8.9

19.6

(15.0–27.5)

22.3

±7.8

19.7

(16.5–24.6)

0.52

0.08

Carotid IMT (mm)

0.65

±0.16

0.64

(0.52–0.75)

0.69

±0.21

0.68

(0.53–0.79)

0.30

DAS28

5.9

±0.7

5.9

(5.4–6.4)

4.5

±1.1

4.6

(4.0–5.3)

3.3

±1.5

3.3

(2.1–4.2)

<0.001

<0.001

CRP (mg/L)

15.6

±16.6

9.1

(3.5–21.0)

8.9

±14.0

4.9

(1.2–8.5)

6.8

±11.8

3.0

(1.1–8.4)

0.008

0.07

(FMD: flow-mediated endothelium dependent vasodilatation; NTG: flow-mediated endothelium independent vasodilatation; IMT: intima-media thickness; CRP: C-reactive protein).