This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although CV -related deaths are increased 2-4 fold in RA, the prevalence of conventional risk factors for CVD is not increase in RA patients. This suggests that the disease itself, presumably via its intense inflammatory process-is an important, independent risk factor for CVD. These investigators hypothesize that RA patients will have higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis as evidenced by higher calcium scores, higher prevalence of LV dysfunction, depressed systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction, and that elevated markers of inflammation will be responsible for this higher prevalence after controlling for conventional risk factors. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that there will be a higher rate of progression of subclinical atherosclerosis and serum markers of inflammation will explain the enhanced progression. Finally, they hypothesize that RA patients with the highest levels of inflammatory markers and disease severity/activity will exhibit higher rates at baseline and higher rates of progression in coronary calcium and LV dysfunction.
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