Potential role of platelets for atherosclerotic events in rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality that can be attributed to accelerated atherosclerosis. This pilot study aimed to investigate if changes in blood parameters were compatible with atherosclerotic events in RA patients. To this aim, 45 RA women (aged more than 18 years), and 25 age and gender-matched healthy donors (HD) were included. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, platelet activation and platelet aggregation were analysed in RA patients at baseline and after six months of treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that ca. 4% of platelets was in activated state (evaluated in term of Annexin V and PAC-1 positivity) in RA patients at baseline, and that th

SUBMITTER: Vona R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6275263 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature