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The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine
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Do patients with rheumatoid arthritis have aorta stiffer than general population?

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 30, pages 145–153 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the aortic stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the aortic stiffness in general population (GP) and to evaluate the determinants of their stiffness.

Patients and methods

The study group consisted of 80 patients with RA and 71 matched GP. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography. Biochemical analyses were conducted for serum using standard laboratory procedures.

Results

The mean PWV values were 7.687±1.03 versus 7.253±0.97 m/s in the patients with RA and GP, respectively. The average coordination of PWV and RA duration (RAD) variations is present by equation of linear regression: y=7.1309+0.0971x. By multiple regression analysis, C-reactive protein, (βst=0.1096, P=0.0009), RAD (βst=0.0917, P=0.0018), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (βst=‒1.0610, P=0.0271), and cholesterol (βst=0.8491, P=0.0350) were independently associated with PWV in the patients with RA. C-reactive protein (βst=0.1057, P=0.0016), triglycerides (βst=0.1730, P=0.0117), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (βst=0.1467, P=0.0206), and cholesterol (βst=0.0305, P=0.0261) were independently associated with PWV in the GP.

Conclusion

Arterial stiffness was more pronounced in the patients with RA than in the GP. The independent determinants of arterial stiffness in both groups include traditional risk factors. RAD is determinant in patients with RA only.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Hospital - Bitola, Departments of Internal Medicine and Doppler Ultrasonography, University SS, Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia

    Petar Avramovski Docent d-r Sci. med., MD, PhD

  2. Clinical Hospital - Bitola, Departments of Rheumatology and Degenerative Arthropathie, University SS, Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia

    Marija Arsovska - Nalbanti

  3. University Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University SS, Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia

    Maja Avramovska

  4. Institute of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, University SS, Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Macedonia

    Emilija Sikole

  5. Faculty of Economics - Prilep, Department of Statistics, St. Celement of Ohrid University, Bitola, 7000, Macedonia

    Pece Nikolovski

Authors
  1. Petar Avramovski Docent d-r Sci. med., MD, PhD
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  2. Maja Avramovska
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  3. Marija Arsovska - Nalbanti
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  4. Pece Nikolovski
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  5. Emilija Sikole
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Correspondence to Petar Avramovski Docent d-r Sci. med., MD, PhD.

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Avramovski, P., Avramovska, M., Arsovska - Nalbanti, M. et al. Do patients with rheumatoid arthritis have aorta stiffer than general population?. Egypt J Intern Med 30, 145–153 (2018). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_65_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_65_17

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