Vascular Markers in Woman and in Men with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates due to cardiovascular disease, and this occurs early in the disease process. In RA an impairment of the number and the activity of circulating progenitor cells, including CD34+ cells and endothelial progenitor cells, is involved in the development of endothelial damage and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objectives To evaluate CD34+ cell number and vascular markers in woman and men with RA. Methods We enrolled 48 patients (mean age 50.6±7.6), 22 men (mean age 51.1±7.9) and 26 women (mean age 50.2±7.4); patients were enrolled at the time of diagnosis, if they did not present with cardiovascular risk factors. CD34+, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), Pulse wave velocity (PWV), were assessed at baseline. We investigated the relationships among cell number, inflammatory markers, and vascular parameters in woman and men. Results No differences in CD34+ cell number (1.79±1.34 vs 1.99±1.59), fibrinogen (361.9±64.2 vs 343.1±74.0), CRP (3.32±1.0 vs 3.12±0.96), PWV (7.77±2.3 vs 7.34±2.9), and cIMT (1.11±0.3 vs 1.14±0.1) between woman and men. In both groups was confirmed a correlation between CD34+ and Fibrinogen, CRP, PWV (all p<0.01). Conclusions Despite RA affects more woman than men, we found no differences in vascular parameters between men and woman at the onset of the disease.