DMARDs Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
August 31, 2006 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one in three deaths can be attributed to cardiovascular disease. A new study suggests that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, reduce the risk of acute heart attack.
Several reasons could account for this finding:
- DMARDs’ anti-inflammatory effects
- Other indirect influences such as the relief in RA symptoms for patients taking DMARDs enough so they are able to engage in more physical activity leading to improved cardiovascular health.
- DMARDs may make it possible to reduce glucocorticoid consumption. Glucocorticoids are associated with an increase atherosclerotic disease.
The association between DMARDs and cardiovascular risk is controversial. Previous data suggested that DMARDs could increase blood pressure and lipids (cholesterol). So it’s still best to get your doctor’s advice on which treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is best for you.
DMARDs associated with a lower risk include:
- Azathioprine (Imuran)
- Cyclosporine (Neoral and Sandimmune)
- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan and Neosar)
- Gold salts (Ridaura)
- Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
- Leflunomide (Arava)
- Methotrexate (Rheumatrex and Folex)
- Minocycline (Dynacin and Minocin)
- Penicillamine (Cuprimine and Depen)
- Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Biologic DMARDs–Abatacept (Orencia), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), and anakinra (Kineret)–are NOT included in this list.
Reuters, August 31, 2006
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