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Klarenbeek, N.B.; Kooij, S.M. van der; Huizinga, T.J.W.; Goekoop-Ruiterman, Y.P.M.; Hulsmans, H.M.J.; Krugten, M.V. van; ... ; Allaart, C.F. (2010)

Blood pressure changes in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis treated with four different treatment strategies: a post hoc analysis from the BeSt trial

Article / Letter to editor
Objective To evaluate the effect of disease activity and antirheumatic treatment on blood pressure (BP) in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods 508 patients with RA were randomised to receive (1) sequential monotherapy, (2) step-up combination therapy, (3) initial combination with prednisone or (4) with infliximab. Systolic and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP), disease activity score (DAS) and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated every 3 months. A linear mixed model was used to model SBP and DBP in each treatment group during year 1, adjusting for baseline BP, changes in BMI, DAS and cardiovascular medication. Results In all groups, mean SBP and DBP were lower for patients with DAS <= 2.4 than for patients with DAS >2.4. In addition, patients initially treated with infliximab (group 4) had a larger decrease in SBP and DBP over time than patients in groups 1-3. The decrease in BP was also observed in patients treated with infliximab after failure on conventional...Show moreObjective To evaluate the effect of disease activity and antirheumatic treatment on blood pressure (BP) in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods 508 patients with RA were randomised to receive (1) sequential monotherapy, (2) step-up combination therapy, (3) initial combination with prednisone or (4) with infliximab. Systolic and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP), disease activity score (DAS) and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated every 3 months. A linear mixed model was used to model SBP and DBP in each treatment group during year 1, adjusting for baseline BP, changes in BMI, DAS and cardiovascular medication. Results In all groups, mean SBP and DBP were lower for patients with DAS <= 2.4 than for patients with DAS >2.4. In addition, patients initially treated with infliximab (group 4) had a larger decrease in SBP and DBP over time than patients in groups 1-3. The decrease in BP was also observed in patients treated with infliximab after failure on conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in groups 1-3. The decrease in BP associated with treatment with infliximab occurred irrespective of the DAS response. Conclusion A lower DAS is associated with lower BP. An additional decrease in BP was observed in patients treated with infliximab. Further research is needed to confirm the effect of infliximab on BP.Show less
factor-alpha therapy cardiovascular risk methotrexate hypertension disease
All authors
Klarenbeek, N.B.; Kooij, S.M. van der; Huizinga, T.J.W.; Goekoop-Ruiterman, Y.P.M.; Hulsmans, H.M.J.; Krugten, M.V. van; Speyer, I.; Vries-Bouwstra, J.K. de; Kerstens, P.J.S.M.; Huizinga, T.W.J.; Dijkmans, B.A.C.; Allaart, C.F.
Date
2010-07-31
Journal
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume
69
Issue
7
Pages
1342 - 1345
DOI
doi:10.1136/ard.2009.124180