Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are known to be at increased cardiovascular risk. Etanercept is a tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) blocking agent that has been successfully used in the treatment of RA. We sought to assess the effects of etanercept on cardiac functions and lipid profile in RA patients without overt cardiac disease.
Sixteen patients with active RA were recruited to the study prospectively. Etanercept was administered subcutaneously twice a week for 6 months. Clinical and laboratory predictors of RA activity and lipid profile were evaluated at baseline and at 6 months. The systolic and diastolic function parameters of the left ventricle were obtained by echocardiographic examination and included mitral inflow Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging.
Sixteen patients (13 women; median age, 48 years [range, 27-69 years]) completed the study. Patients' 28-item Disease Activity Score and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores were significantly reduced by treatment (6.35 to 4.45 [P < 0.001] and 2.0 to 0.75 [P = 0.005], respectively). Diastolic dysfunction was detected in 6 patients (37.5%) (3 in grade 1 and 3 in grade 2) by mitral inflow Doppler and the tissue Doppler parameters before the treatment. No significant change in diastolic dysfunction was observed during follow-up (6/16 to 5/16, P = 0.164). In addition, there were also no significant differences in the left ventricular ejection fraction (65.8-66.9, P = 0.168) and lipid profiles after 6 months of etanercept treatment.
Etanercept treatment was safe for use as regards cardiac functions and lipid profiles and effective on RA parameters during 6-month follow-up in patients with active RA.