CLINICAL AND LABORATORY MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF THE COMMON CAROTID ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN COMBINATION WITH HYPERTENSION

Danyuk I.O., Rekalov D.H., Ryndina N.G.

Summary. The aim. To investigate the condition of common carotid arteries (CCA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in combination with hypertension and to identify the clinical and laboratory markers associated with atherosclerosis. Materials and methods. The main group — 93 patients with RA in combination with hypertension stage II. Ultrasound examination of CCA, concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), terminal stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NO_x), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum were investigated. Results. There were the significant increase of the concentrations of ADMA by 21,79%, IL-1β by 74,58% and significant decrease of NO_x> by 11,76% in the main group compared to the patients with hypertension. The largest area under the ROC-curve according to the AP detection of the CCA was detected in ADMA index at the optimal distribution point >0,794 μmol/l. Conclusions. Patients with RA in combination with hypertension have significant signs of atherosclerosis of CCA, which manifested in thickening of intima-media complex by 18,6% compared to the healthy persons and in increasing of AP detection by 19,0% compared to the patients with hypertension. The concentrations of ADMA at the optimal distribution point >0,794 μmol/l, IL-1β at the optimal distribution point >18,32 pg/ml and decrease of NO_x at the optimal distribution point ≤13 μmol/l are associated with significant detection of AP in the CCA channel in patients with RA in combination with hypertension.