Short term therapy with biologics/impact on CVD | Arthritis Information

 

Jin T et al. – Study reports that infusion of CD20 antibodies to the patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) led to a clearly reduced plasma levels of predictors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) indicating that this treatment, apart from its anti-inflammatory properties, may reduce the risk for future CVD in RA.

Methods

• Aim was to investigate the influence of biological drugs (anti-CD20 and TNF Abs) on prothrombotic molecules (fibrinogen, D-dimer, and tPA; CV risk factors)
• Expression of prothrombotic molecules in plasma was investigated in:
  • 10 RA pts before and after treatment with TNF-α Abs, and
  • In another 12 RA pts before and after anti-CD20 treatment

Results

• Both anti-TNF and anti-CD20 infusions gave rise to clear clinical improvement
• However, only anti-CD20 infusion reduced concn of fibrinogen, D-dimer, and tPA levels
• In contrast, in TNF Ab treated pts only tPA levels were decreased following the treatment

http://www.clinexprheumatol.org/pdf/vol%2027/27%20.%203/ab15.htm[quote=link provided by Lynn]Infusion of CD20 antibodies to the patients with active RA led to a clearly reduced plasma levels of predictors of CVD indicating that this treatment, apart from its anti-inflammatory properties, may reduce the risk for future CVD in RA.[/quote]

Although not directly related, >>THIS<< may be of interest as well.

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