Cardiovascular Effects of Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revisited

Title:Cardiovascular Effects of Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revisited

Volume: 22 Issue: 16

Author(s): Tatyana V. Popkova, Diana S. Novikova, Armen Yuri Gasparyan and Evgeny L. Nasonov

Affiliation:

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, methotrexate, rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke due to enhanced inflammatory atherosclerosis account for increased premature mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Accumulated evidence suggests that accelerated atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular comorbidities in RA are confounded not only by traditional risk factors (TRF) but also by a number of immune and inflammatory pathways. Since chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders play a key role in atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular complications in RA, effective suppression of systemic inflammation can be viewed as a strategy for cardiovascular therapy and prevention in this disease. This article overviews some mechanisms of action of methotrexate on TRF, clinical and subclinical manifestations of RA-induced atherosclerosis, and related cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Cite this article as:

V. Popkova Tatyana, S. Novikova Diana, Yuri Gasparyan Armen and L. Nasonov Evgeny, Cardiovascular Effects of Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revisited, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 22 (16) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867322666150415122039