To investigate the effect of suppressing inflammation on retinal microvascular health in patients with RA.
Two groups of patients with RA were recruited and studied concurrently. Group A included patients with moderate to high disease activity [28-joint DAS with CRP (DAS28-CRP) >3.2] requiring treatment escalation, while group B had stable low disease activity (DAS28-CRP ≤3.2) not requiring treatment escalation. Retinal photography was performed at baseline and weeks 6 and 24 in group A and at baseline and week 12 in group B.
Group A included 26 patients with a mean age of 50.7 years (s.d. 3.5) and a mean disease duration of 7.1 years (s.d. 8.0). Disease activity significantly improved during follow-up and was accompanied by a significant reduction in retinal venular calibre at week 6 [mean difference (MD) -7.9 μm (95% CI -13.3, -2.5)] and at week 24 [MD -6.8 μm (95% CI -12.2, -1.4)]. No significant change in retinal arteriolar calibre was identified at week 6 [MD -0.6 μm (95% CI -4.5, 3.28)] or week 24 [MD 0.7 μm (95% CI -3.1, 4.5)]. Group B included 27 patients with a mean age of 54.6 years (s.d. 1.8) and a mean disease duration of 14.5 years (s.d. 10.9). Disease activity and therapy remained unchanged during follow-up and no significant changes in retinal venular [MD 1.81 μm (95% CI -2.32, 5.95)] or arteriolar [MD 0.54 μm (95% CI -2.77, 3.86)] calibre were observed.
We demonstrated that suppression of inflammation in RA is associated with a reduction of retinal venular calibre, suggesting that therapies targeting inflammation could improve vascular health in RA.