Methotrexate, Cyclosporine A, and Biologics Protect against Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Table 2
Associations between presence of atherosclerotic plaques and clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and use of different DMARDs.
Presence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid and/or femoral arteries ()
Lack of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid and femoral arteries ()
RA duration, years
10.54 (9.41)
10.76 (8.86)
0.8
ESR, mm/h
31.17 (24.39)
22.49 (21.4)
0.0008
CRP, mg/dL
1.99 (2.9)
1.42 (2.66)
0.07
Creatinine, mg/dL
0.81 (0.3)
0.7 (0.21)
0.0007
DAS28
4.63 (1.51)
4.73 (1.57)
0.6
Framingham 10-year risk score
10.1 (6.22)
6.01 (5.16)
<
Methotrexate ever
65 (87.84%)
237 (97.93%)
0.0002
Sulphasalazine ever
30 (40.54%)
117 (48.35%)
0.2
Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine ever
22 (29.72%)
76 (31.4%)
0.8
Gold salts ever
8 (10.81%)
38 (15.7%)
0.3
Azathioprine ever
5 (6.76%)
13 (5.37%)
0.7
Cyclophosphamide ever
2 (2.7%)
5 (2.07%)
0.7
Cyclosporine A ever
10 (13.51%)
67 (27.69%)
0.01
Leflunomide ever
28 (37.84%)
95 (39.26%)
0.8
Biologic agents ever
5 (6.76)
56 (23.14%)
0.002
Infliximab ever
1 (1.35%)
23 (9.5%)
0.02
Adalimumab ever
0 (0%)
12 (4.96%)
0.0503
Etanercept ever
2 (2.7%)
37 (15.29%)
0.004
Rituximab ever
0 (0%)
13 (5.37%)
0.04
Continuous treatment with DMARDs
27 (36.49%)
114 (47.11%)
0.1
RF positivity
59 (79.73%)
158 (67.81)▲
0.0497
ACPA positivity
49 (76.56%)#
162 (77.51%)†
0.9
Presence of erosions in hand and/or feet X-ray
42 (68.58%)
134 (71.66%)
0.8
Data is presented as mean (standard deviation) for continuous variables and number (percentage) for categorical variables. #Data available for 64 patients. Data available for 61 patients. ▲Data available for 233 patients. †Data available for 209 patients. Data available for 187 patients.
