The inextricable link between atherosclerosis and prototypical inflammatory diseases rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
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* Corresponding author: Claudia Monaco c.monaco@imperial.ac.uk
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Aspenlea Road, London, W6 8LH, UK
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:217 doi:10.1186/ar2631
Published: 3 April 2009Abstract
The increased burden of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus has recently become the focus of intense investigation. Proatherogenic risk factors and dysregulated inflammation are the main culprits, leading to enhanced atherosclerosis in subgroups of patients with inflammatory diseases. Common molecular pathways shared by atherosclerosis and inflammatory disease may be involved. In this review we map the key determinants of the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with inflammatory diseases at each step of the atherogenesis.