Peripheral Artery Function Impaired in RA Patients

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Peripheral Artery Function Impaired in RA Patients

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 02 - Peripheral artery incompressibility

and obstruction appear to be increased in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis (RA), Texas-based researchers report. The findings, Dr.

Inmaculada del Rincon told Reuters Health, " mean that RA patients are

at high risk of experiencing peripheral vascular disease, a risk that

has not been previously recognized. "

As Dr. del Rincon noted, " the study showed an increased prevalence of

impaired peripheral artery function in the patients with RA that was

not effaced after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. "

Dr. del Rincon and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science

Center, San studied the lower limb arteries in 234 RA patients

and 102 controls, and report their findings in the March issue of the

ls of the Rheumatic Diseases

In the RA patients, 66 of 931 arteries (7%) were incompressible and 30

(3%) were obstructed. Corresponding proportions in 408 control arteries

were 0.7% and 1%.

Overall, abnormal arteries were seen in 19% of RA patients and 5% of

controls.

" Both arterial obstruction and arterial incompressibility seemed to

occur mainly among patients with the most advanced arthritic changes in

their joints, " Dr. del Rincon noted. Most impairments were seen in

patients with 20 or more deformed joints.

" Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease may go unnoticed in RA, " she

commented, " because of the low cardiovascular demands of most patients,

which are unlikely to elicit claudication symptoms. "

Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:425-4332.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/500662

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