The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and antirheumatic drugs on atherosclerosis by comparing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) as an indicator for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study included 44 female RA patients who met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and age-matched 22 healthy females. CIMT was measured on both carotid arteries using a B-mode ultrasound scan. The mean value of both sides was taken as the CIMT of the subject. The CIMT was evaluated according to the use of drugs, disease activity and CVD risk factors in RA patients as a case-control study. Higher CIMT was observed in RA patients as compared with healthy subjects (0.705 ± 0.198 mm, 0.611 ± 0.093 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). With adjustment for the CVD risk factors, disease activity and the use of anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate (MTX) only showed a favorable effect on CIMT in RA. A significantly lower CIMT was observed in RA with MTX as compared with RA without MTX (0.644 ± 0.136 mm, 0.767 ± 0.233 mm, respectively, P < 0.05). The effects were correlated with MTX dosage (β = -0.029, P < 0.01). The use of MTX should be considered in high priority not only to control arthritis but also to reduce the RA-related CVD risk to mortality.
Keywords: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Atherosclerosis; Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT); Methotrexate.