Statins may reduce rheumatoid arthritis disease activity

The management of heart disease and cholesterol level has room for improvement in people with rheumatoid arthritis and there is a lack of research on the impact of statins in particular, scientists report in Frontiers in Medicine.

Inflammation and anti-inflammatory medication influences the metabolism of lipids, leading to variable states of dyslipidaemia in people with rheumatoid arthritis (which is an abnormal amount of lipids such as cholesterol in the blood). So cholesterol levels of people with rheumatoid arthritis who would benefit from statins are not the same as those within the general population.

Furthermore, some evidence suggests a beneficial impact of statins on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, due to their anti-inflammatory properties and the impact they have on the immune system.

Statins may therefore reduce rheumatoid arthritis related cardiovascular risk and while benefitting disease activity.

Click here to read the original research.

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