Methotrexate, Cyclosporine A, and Biologics Protect against Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Table 3
Associations between IMT and use of different DMARDs, treatment regimen, presence of RF, ACPA, and erosions.
Significant differences in classical CV risk factors (i.e., age, BMI, smoking, hypertension, lipid profile, and FSS) between groups
CIMT
FIMT
CIMT, mm
FIMT, mm
MTX(+) versus MTX(−)
—
0.716 (0.178) versus 0.784 (0.235)
0.2
0.511 (0.159) versus 0.628 (0.293)
0.01
0.03
MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk versus MTX < 20 mg/wk
MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk group was younger (55.77 yrs versus 59.85 yrs) and had lower FSS (6.57 versus 7.92)
0.687 (0.171) versus 0.758 (0.186)
0.0005
0.009
0.492 (0.126) versus 0.546 (0.206)
0.004
0.04
Sulphasalazine(+) versus sulphasalazine(−)
—
0.707 (0.168) versus 0.731 (0.192)
0.2
0.505 (0.138) versus 0.526 (0.192)
0.3
Hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine(+) versus hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine(−)
—
0.703 (0.181) versus 0.727 (0.181)
0.3
0.517 (0.163) versus 0.515 (0.181)
0.9
Gold salts(+) versus gold salts(−)
—
0.682 (0.139) versus 0.726 (0.187)
0.1
0.494 (0.166) versus 0.520 (0.169)
0.3
Azathioprine(+) versus azathioprine(−)
—
0.731 (0.216) versus 0.719 (0.179)
0.8
0.518 (0.110) versus 0.516 (0.172)
0.96
Cyclophosphamide(+) versus cyclophosphamide(−)
—
0.745 (0.205) versus 0.719 (0.181)
0.7
0.669 (0.427) versus 0.512 (0.158)
0.01
0.2
Cyclosporine(+) versus cyclosporine(−)
CsA(+) group was younger (53.03 yrs versus 58.46 yrs) and had lower FSS (5.91 versus 7.59), and hypertension was less prevalent in this group (32.47% versus 46.44%)
0.665 (0.165) versus 0.737 (0.183)
0.002
0.03
0.471 (0.095) versus 0.530 (0.184)
0.007
0.06
Leflunomide(+) versus leflunomide(−)
—
0.719 (0.174) versus 0.720 (0.186)
0.96
0.514 (0.161) versus 0.517 (0.174)
0.9
Biologic agents(+) versus biologic agents(−)
Biologic agents(+) group was younger (53.24 yrs versus 58.31 yrs)
0.663 (0.165) versus 0.733 (0.182)
0.006
0.04
0.477 (0.124) versus 0.525 (0.177)
0.04
0.2
MTX20(+)/CsA(+)/biologics(+) versus MTX20(−)/CsA(−)/biologics(−)
MTX20(+)/CsA(+)/biologics(+) group was younger (55.47 yrs versus 61.59 yrs) and had lower FSS (6.38 versus 8.82)
0.684 (0.169) versus 0.788 (0.186)
0.489 (0.123) versus 0.570 (0.227)
MTX20(+)/CsA(+)/biologics(+) versus controls
—
0.684 (0.169) versus 0.682 (0.167)
0.94
0.489 (0.123) versus 0.457 (0.099)
0.02
0.02
MTX20(+)/biologics(−) versus biologics(+)MTX20(−)
—
0.703 (0.173) versus 0.708 (0.172)
0.9
0.493 (0.128) versus 0.458 (0.123)
0.2
Biologics(+)/CsA(−) versus CsA(+)/biologics(−)
—
0.655 (0.181) versus 0.662 (0.176)
0.9
0.476 (0.155) versus 0.467 (0.102)
0.3
CsA(+)/MTX20(−) versus MTX20(+)/CsA(−)
—
0.661 (0.144) versus 0.696 (0.168)
0.3
0.473 (0.076) versus 0.500 (0.134)
0.3
MTX ≥ 20/biologics(−)/CsA(−) versus MTX < 20/biologics(−)/CsA(−)
MTX ≥ 20/biologics(−)/CsA(−) group was younger (56.41 yrs versus 60.39 yrs) and had lower FSS (6.71 versus 8.01)
0.708 (0.164) versus 0.791 (0.188)
0.0009
0.008
0.502 (0.130) versus 0.577 (0.227)
0.004
0.02
cDMARDs versus dDMARDs
cDMARDs group was younger (54.53 yrs versus 59.62 yrs)
0.683 (0.177) versus 0.746 (0.182)
0.002
0.02
0.485 (0.114) versus 0.544 (0.200)
0.002
0.01
RF(+) versus RF(−)
—
0.733 (0.189) versus 0.690 (0.160)
0.06
0.524 (0.164) versus 0.506 (0.182)
0.4
ACPA(+) versus ACPA(−)
—
0.720 (0.180) versus 0.702 (0.202)
0.5
0.525 (0.171) versus 0.480 (0.148)
0.06
Bone erosions(+) versus bone erosions(−)
—
0.730 (0.190) versus 0.721 (0.174)
0.8
0.530 (0.184) versus 0.501 (0.121)
0.2
Data is presented as mean (standard deviation). Biologics(+)/MTX20(−): patients treated with biologics but never treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk. Biologics(+)/CsA(−): patients treated with biologics but never treated with CsA. CsA(+)/MTX20(−): patients treated with CsA but never treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk. CsA(+)/biologics(−): patients treated with CsA but never treated with biologics. MTX20(+)/biologics(−): patients treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk but never treated with biologics. MTX20(+)/CsA(−): patients treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk but never treated with CsA. MTX20(+)/CsA(+)/biologics(+): patients treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk and/or CsA and/or biologic agents. MTX20(−)/CsA(−)/biologics(−): patients never treated with CsA, biologic agents, and MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk. MTX ≥ 20/biologics(−)/CsA(−): patients treated with MTX ≥ 20 mg/wk but never treated with biologics and CsA. MTX < 20/biologics(−)/CsA(−): patients treated with MTX < 20 mg/wk but never treated with biologics and CsA. : value for analysis adjusted for classical CVD risk factors.
