Focus on the potential effects of treatments for spondylarthritides on cardiovascular risk

Abstract

The past years have seen the publication of several studies on seronegative spondylarthritides (SpA) and cardiovascular risk as a result of new insights into the connection between inflammation and atherogenesis. Although the overall cardiovascular disease is a complex entity, chronic inflammation of SpA is known to contribute as an independent risk factor, and new therapies are aimed at reducing this persistent inflammatory status. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in understanding the role of the current therapeutic measures of SpA in preventing or accelerating cardiovascular risk.

Keywords::

• ankylosing spondylitis
• anti-TNF-α
• cardiovascular disease
• cardiovascular risk
• DMARDs
• methotrexate
• NSAIDs
• psoriatic arthritis
• spondylarthritis
• statin

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• The main part of the excess cardiovascular (CV) risk reported in spondylarthritides is due to the connections between chronic inflammation and atherogenesis.

• Synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs aimed at reducing this persistent inflammatory status that may have a role in reducing CV risk.

• Statins regulate cholesterol synthesis and have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, thus potentially providing a substantial contribution to the reduction of CV risk.