Autoantibodies / the risk of cardiovascular events | Arthritis Information

 

Liang KP et al. – RF and ANA positivity are significant predictors of CV events and mortality in both those with and those without rheumatic diseases. These results support the role of immune dysregulation in the etiology of CV disease.

Methods

• Population-based cohort study
• Subjects had RF and/or ANA test performed between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2000, and/or CCP test performed between September 1, 2003, and January 1, 2005, with followup until April 1, 2007
• Outcomes ascertained using diagnostic indices from complete medical records, including CV events (MI, HF, and PVD) and mortality
• Cox models used to analyze data

Results

• 6783 subjects with RF, 7852 with ANA, and 299 with CCP testing
• Adjusting for age, sex, calendar year, comorbidity, and rheumatic disease, RF and ANA positivity were significant predictors of CV events and death
• Adjusting for age, CCP positivity associated with CV events, but this association not statistically significant

http://jrheum.org/content/early/2009/10/09/jrheum.090188.abstract
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