Myocardial Dysfunction and Heart Failure in Rheumatoid Arthritis

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have almost twice the risk of heart failure (HF) of patients without RA, even when adjusting for presence of ischemic heart disease. Moreover, RA patients remain at two-fold higher risk of mortality from HF compared to non-RA patients. These observations suggest that RA specific inflammatory pathways are significant contributors to this increased risk of HF. We summarize the epidemiology of HF in RA patients, the differences in myocardial structure or function between RA vs non-RA patients without clinical signs of HF, and data on the role of systemic and local inflammation in RA HF pathophysiology. We also discuss the impact of subduing inflammation thorough the use of RA disease modifying therapies (DMARDs) on HF and myocardial structure and function, emphasizing gaps in literature and areas needing further research.
Source: Arthritis and Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research