Cerebral Hemodynamics in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cerebral blood flow velocity using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Materials and methods: A total of 22 patients aged 20 to 40-years-old with RA were enrolled in the RA group consecutively. Control group (non-RA group) consisted of 22 age and sex-matched, randomly selected patients without RA who had other diagnosis such as fibromyalgia and did not have risk factors for atherosclerosis (AS). Bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak-systolic, end-diastolic, and mean blood flow velocities, Pourcelot’s resistance index values and Gosling’s pulsatility index values were recorded with TCD by a neurosonologist blinded to RA and control groups. Results: There were 22 people in each group. There were 10 women and 12 men in RA group. Therefore, control group was selected similar. The mean age was 38.6 in the RA group and 37.8 in the control group. Cerebral blood flow velocities of bilateral MCA were significantly higher in RA group than the control group. Conclusions: Our study highlights the increased cerebral blood flow is indirectly associated with AS regarding persistent inflammation in patients with RA.