Relationship Between Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Inflammation, and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis

will be prevalent in patients with RA who have low estimated ASCVD risk and that CMD will be associated with higher levels of IL- 6. We analyzed baseline data from the LIIRA (Lipids, Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in RA) study, NCT02714881. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. LIIRA included individuals with RA, age>35 years with active RA, not on a statin or biologic therapy. All subjects underwent assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, as well as the validated RA Disease Activity Score- 28- C- reactive protein (CRP3), which includes tender, swollen joints, and hsCRP (high-sensitivity CRP); a stress myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography scan was performed to quantify CFR. Standard positron emission tomography imaging protocols were performed as previously described. 3 CFR was calculated as the ratio of myocardial blood flow (mL/min per g) at peak stress over that at rest; CMD was defined as CFR<2.5. Attenuation correction computed tomography scans were reviewed for semi-quantitative assessment of coronary artery calcium. HsCRP and IL- 6 levels were measured in the clinical laboratory. A Wilcoxon rank- sum test was performed