Title:Cardiovascular Risk of Synthetic, Non-Biologic Disease-Modifying Anti- Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
Volume: 18
Issue: 5
Author(s): Iordanis S. Mourouzis*, Antonis S. Manolis and Constantinos Pantos
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527,Greece
Keywords:
Cardiovascular risk, rheumatoid diseases, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine,
leflunomide, tofacitinib.
Abstract: Patients with rheumatoid diseases have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
and CVD-related death compared with the general population. Both the traditional cardiovascular risk
factors and systemic inflammation are contributors to this phenomenon. This review examines the available
evidence about the effects of synthetic, non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
(DMARDs) on CVD risk. This is an important issue for clinicians when deciding on individual treatment
plans in patients with rheumatic diseases. Evidence suggests that synthetic, non-biologic
DMARDs such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide and tofacitinib show
decreased CVD morbidity and mortality. However, the strongest data in favour of a reduction in CVD
events in rheumatoid patients are shown with methotrexate, which has been the focus of most studies.
Adequate proof for a favourable effect also exists for hydroxychloroquine. Larger, prospective studies
and randomized clinical trials are needed to better characterize the effect of synthetic, non-biologic
DMARDs on CVD outcomes in these patients. Design of future studies should include areas with lack
of evidence, such as the risk for heart failure, arrhythmias and valvular heart disease. The clinically
relevant question whether synthetic, non-biologic DMARDs are inferior to biologic DMARDs in terms
of CVD outcomes remains not adequately addressed.
