Background: The risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is exaggerated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than non-rheumatoid subjects. There are conflicting data whether acute phase reactants are good predictors of such diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the different varieties of cardiovascular disorders in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the relation of these disorders with the activity of the rheumatoid disease as indicated by Disease Activity Score 28.
Materials and methods: The study was a cross-sectional study including 100 Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis on regular treatment. Disease activity was assessed, in addition to carotid duplex study and echocardiography evaluation.
Results: Seventy of our patients had seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, and the other 30 patients were seronegative. The latter were rarely affected by cardiovascular disorders. A large scale of cardiovascular disorders was encountered in rheumatoid patients, but atherosclerosis was the most frequent one (51% of the study population). All types of cardiovascular disorders are associated with a higher Disease Activity Score 28.
Conclusion: Egyptian patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were prone to many types of cardiovascular disorders. High Disease Activity Score 28 was the most sensitive indicator of associated cardiovascular disorders. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be screened for early detection and control of these disorders.
