Suppression of inflammatory disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with improvements in retinal microvascular health
- Author(s)
- Moi, JH; Hodgson, LA; Wicks, IP; Wong, TY; Van Doornum, S;
- Details
- Publication Year 2016-02,Volume 55,Issue #2,Page 246-251
- Journal Title
- Rheumatology
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of suppressing inflammation on retinal microvascular health in patients with RA. METHODS: Two groups of patients with RA were recruited and studied concurrently. Group A included patients with moderate to high disease activity [28-joint DAS with CRP (DAS28-CRP) >3.2] requiring treatment escalation, while group B had stable low disease activity (DAS28-CRP </=3.2) not requiring treatment escalation. Retinal photography was performed at baseline and weeks 6 and 24 in group A and at baseline and week 12 in group B. RESULTS: Group A included 26 patients with a mean age of 50.7 years (s.d. 3.5) and a mean disease duration of 7.1 years (s.d. 8.0). Disease activity significantly improved during follow-up and was accompanied by a significant reduction in retinal venular calibre at week 6 [mean difference (MD) -7.9 mum (95% CI -13.3, -2.5)] and at week 24 [MD -6.8 mum (95% CI -12.2, -1.4)]. No significant change in retinal arteriolar calibre was identified at week 6 [MD -0.6 mum (95% CI -4.5, 3.28)] or week 24 [MD 0.7 mum (95% CI -3.1, 4.5)]. Group B included 27 patients with a mean age of 54.6 years (s.d. 1.8) and a mean disease duration of 14.5 years (s.d. 10.9). Disease activity and therapy remained unchanged during follow-up and no significant changes in retinal venular [MD 1.81 mum (95% CI -2.32, 5.95)] or arteriolar [MD 0.54 mum (95% CI -2.77, 3.86)] calibre were observed. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that suppression of inflammation in RA is associated with a reduction of retinal venular calibre, suggesting that therapies targeting inflammation could improve vascular health in RA.
- Publisher
- OUP
- Research Division(s)
- Inflammation
- PubMed ID
- 26338663
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kev304
- NHMRC Grants
- NHMRC/1023407, NHMRC/1016647,
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2015-09-24 02:12:26
Last Modified: 2016-01-21 08:58:19