Title:Cardio-Rheumatology: Two Collaborating Disciplines to Deal with the Enhanced Cardiovascular Risk in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
Volume: 18
Issue: 6
Author(s): Antonis S. Manolis*Athanasios G. Tzioufas
Affiliation:
- Third Department of Cardiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens,Greece
Keywords:
Autoimmune rheumatic disease, cardiovascular disease, cardiorheumatology, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis,
psoriatic arthritis, antirheumatic drugs, cardiovascular imaging, coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes,
atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, antiphospholipid syndrome, juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Abstract: In Part 1 of this Thematic Issue entitled “Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and Cardiology”, a
panel of specialists and experts in cardiology, rheumatology, immunology and related fields discussed the cardiovascular
complications of spondyloarthritides, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome and vasculitides, as well as relevant cardiovascular
issues related to non-biologic and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and provided
their recommendations for prevention and management of these complications. In part 2 of this Thematic Issue, experts
discuss the enhanced cardiovascular risk conferred by additional autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), including systemic
lupus erythematosus, the antiphospholipid syndrome, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
These, and the previous articles, place inflammation as the key common link to explain the enhanced risk of cardiovascular
complications in patients with ARDs. It follows that treatment should probably target inflammation. From all
these contemporary reviews, the conclusion that is derived further supports the notion of the emerging field of Cardio-
Rheumatology where physicians and experts from these two disciplines collaborate in risk stratification and optimization
of preventive strategies and drug therapies in patients with ARDs.