Myocardial Microvascular Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of myocardial microvascular dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without clinical cardiovascular disease and its association with RA characteristics and measures of cardiac structure and function.

METHODS: Participants with RA underwent rest and vasodilator stress N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography and echocardiography. Global myocardial blood flow was quantified at rest and during peak hyperemia. Myocardial flow reserve (MFR) was calculated as peak stress myocardial blood flow/rest myocardial blood flow. A small number of asymptomatic and symptomatic non-RA controls were also evaluated.

RESULTS: In RA patients, mean±SD MFR was 2.9±0.8, with 29% having reduced MFR (

CONCLUSIONS: Reduced MFR was observed in a third of RA patients without clinical cardiovascular disease and was associated with a measure of inflammation and with higher left ventricle mass and volumes. MFR in RA patients was similar to controls referred for clinical scans (symptomatic controls). Whether reduced MFR contributes to the increased risk for heart failure in RA remains unknown.

Volume

12

Issue

1

First Page

007495

Last Page

007495

ISSN

1942-0080

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

30636512

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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