Managing Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Disease

Individuals with chronic inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), notably rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and gout, are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Central to all 3 conditions is chronic inflammation. Many of the cellular and molecular features of RMDs now also are recognized as operant in the pathogenesis of CVD, especially in the local lesions of atherosclerosis and in promoting wider endothelial and microvascular dysfunction. The combination of RMD-specific factors coupledIndividuals with chronic inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), notably rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and gout, are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Central to all 3 conditions is chronic inflammation. Many of the cellular and molecular features of RMDs now also are recognized as operant in the pathogenesis of CVD, especially in the local lesions of atherosclerosis and in promoting wider endothelial and microvascular dysfunction. The combination of RMD-specific factors coupled