Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs May Lower Heart Attack, S...(ethotrexate for one year can reduce thei...),Health

"Methotrexate, other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic agents could reduce the extra risk of myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have by controlling inflammation," Naranjo said.

The findings were published in the March 5 issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy.

One heart expert thinks this retrospective study is intriguing, but it didn't really determine if the medications for controlling inflammation actually lowered the risk of heart attack and stroke.

"While certain associations are shown between the use of anti-inflammatory agents and prior cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be demonstrated in this type of study," said Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Prospective data and, ultimately, prospective randomized clinical trials are needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn about whether these drugs really lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, he said.

More information

To learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

SOURCES: Antonio Naranjo, M.D., Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., professor, cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles; March 5, 2008, Arthritis Research & Therapy