Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ρευματολογία - Μυοσκελετική ΥγείαLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Δημήτριος Βασιλόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Πέτρος Π. Σφηκάκης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Μαρία Τεκτονίδου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Καρδιαγγειακή νόσος και ρευματικά νοσήματα
Translated title:
Cardiovascular disease and rheumatic diseases
Summary:
Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic diseases (CIRD) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), ascribed not only to classical risk factors, but also to the presence of chronic systemic inflammatory response. Αtherosclerosis, the cornerstone of CVD, is known to be accelerated in CIRD; rheumatoid arthritis promotes atheromatosis and associates with preclinical atherosclerosis equivalent to Diabetes Mellitus, which also seems to apply for systemic lupus erythematosus. Data on ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, albeit more limited, also support an increased CV risk in these patients. The association between inflammation and atherosclerosis, has been thoroughly investigated in the last 3 decades and the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis and progression of atherogenesis has been well established. Endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress in vascular endothelial cells and macrophage accumulation, Toll-like receptor signaling, NLPR-3 formation and subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokine production, such as TNFa, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-like cytokine 1A, are few of the mechanisms implicated in the atherogenic process. Moreover, there is evidence that anti-inflammatory biologic drugs, such as anti-TNF and anti-IL1β agents, can decelerate the atherogenic process, thus setting new therapeutic targets for early and effective disease control and suppression of inflammation, in addition to aggressive management of classical CV risk factors.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Cardiovascular disease, Atherosclerosis, Atheromatosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Inflammation
Number of references:
240
