Change of the aortic elasticity in rheumatoid arthritis: Relationship to associated cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, infl ammatory disease, which is associated with an excess of cardiovascular events. A decrease in the compliance of the arterial system, termed arterial stiffness, results in increased cardiac workload. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a priority for modern medicine.