Brain natriuretic peptide is a potentially useful screening tool for the detection of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a significantly higher risk of coronary heart disease, despite being less likely to report symptoms of angina, and are more likely to experience unrecognised myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death than non-RA controls. 1 Furthermore, left ventricu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2006-01, Vol.65 (1), p.136-136
Main Authors:	Harney, S M J, Timperley, J, Daly, C, Harin, A, James, T, Brown, M A, Banning, A P, Fox, K, Donnelly, S, Wordsworth, B P
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications Biological and medical sciences Biomarkers - blood brain natriuretic peptide Cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis Diseases of the osteoarticular system end diastolic volume Female Health risk assessment Heart attacks Humans Inflammatory joint diseases Letters Male Mass Screening - methods Medical sciences Middle Aged Natriuretic Peptide, Brain - blood Rheumatoid arthritis screening ventricular dysfunction
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Summary:	Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a significantly higher risk of coronary heart disease, despite being less likely to report symptoms of angina, and are more likely to experience unrecognised myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death than non-RA controls. 1 Furthermore, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction has been described in up to 40% of patients with RA. 2 Traditional risk factors partially account for this increased risk, and primary prevention is important in this high risk group. Twenty six patients with RA from the initial group, selected specifically for the absence of a previous physician diagnosis of hypertension or ischaemic heart disease or symptoms of cardiac disease were studied further by Doppler echocardiography and compared with 32 healthy controls.
ISSN:	0003-4967 1468-2060