Assesmen of atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid artery and risk factors for rheumatoi arthritis patients

Abstract

Aim. To study and evaluate risk factors and analyze carotid artery intima-media thickness parameters as an early predictor of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Materials and methods. The study involved 86 patients (women - 67, men - 19) observed in the State Institution “City Medical Center №2”, Dushanbe, aged from 37 to 67 years (mean age - 56.5±2.9 years). The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was established according to the American College of Rheumatologists/EULAR 2010 criteria.
The examination program included general clinical and instrumental methods (examination of common and accessible parts of internal and external carotid arteries), estimation of lumen size, the thickness of intima-media complex (TCIM), straightness of its course, atherosclerotic plaques of carotid arteries (ABS), echocardiography (ECHO-KG).
Results and discussion. Thus, in the absence of significant gender differences in the frequency of arterial hypertension and increased intima-media thickness (the earliest manifestation of atherosclerotic vascular lesions), hypercholesterolemia and long-term glucocorticoid intake were more frequently recorded in women. Undoubtedly, each of the considered risk factors makes a definite contribution to the development of vascular atherosclerosis and the instability of their organic changes. However, the significance of these risk factors in the thickening of the intima-media complex of vessels may differ.
Conclusion. Data correlated with intima-media thickness show sex differences, the significance of risk factors, and an increase in intima-media thickness despite the duration of glucocorticoid therapy. The factors mentioned are more significant in men, while in women, intima-media thickness is closely related to the duration of rheumatoid arthritis, total cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.