Cardiovascular complications constitute the leading cause of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with this complex polygenic inflammatory rheumatic disease have metabolic abnormalities including a dyslipidemic pattern and insulin resistance. Surrogate markers of atherosclerosis have disclosed the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in these patients. Besides genetic factors, chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of accelerated atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Since the advent of biologic therapies for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, the incidence of cardiovascular complications seems to have decreased in patients with this disease. However, further studies are needed to shed light on the problem of augmented risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Articles for this special issue on mechanisms associated with atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Influence of genetic factors
• Role of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction
• Influence of proinflammatory cytokines
• The role of CRP as a marker of atherosclerosis
• The presence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
• The influence of classic cardiovascular risk factors
• The role of inflammation in the development of dyslipidemia
• The implication of surrogate markers of atherosclerosis
• The influence of biologic therapies, in particular TNF antagonist agents, on the modulation of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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