Accelerated atherosclerosis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is increasingly considered an immune system-mediated process of the vascular system. Autoantibodies, autoantigens, pro-inflammatory cytokines and infectious agents play a role in that process. Autoimmunity-related cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis are important clinical problems. The reason for accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases remains unclear. Some cases of autoimmunity-related cardiovascular disease may be more related to thrombosis than atherosclerosis. Although, mechanisms causing the increased risk are not precisely clarified, a combination of traditional and nontraditional risk factors, including inflammation appears to be of importance. Further studies are needed to determine whether these autoimmune rheumatic diseases are also associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and its manifestations.

Keywords

• Atherosclerosis, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, mechanisms

Accelerated atherosclerosis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Öz

Ateroskleroz artan bir şekilde dammar sisteminin immune system aracılı bir oluşumu olarak algılanmaktadır. Otoantikorlar, otoantijenler, yangı artırıcı sitokinler ve enfeksiyöz etkenler bu oluşumda rol alabilir. Ototimmunite bağlantılı kalp-damar hastalıkları ve damar sertliği önemli klinik sorunlardır. Otoimmun romatizmal hastalıklarda hızlanmış damar sertliği gelişmesinin nedeni açık değildir. Bazı otoimmunite ilişkili kalp-damar sorunları damar sertliğinden ziyade tromboz ile ilişkilidir. Artan riskin mekanizmaları net olarak açıklanmamakla birlikte, geleneksel olan ve olmayan risk faktörlerinin - yangı da içlerinde olarak – bir kombinasyonu önemli gözükmektedir. Otoimmun romatizmal hastalıkların hızlanmış damar sertleşmesi ve belirtileri ile birlikte olup olmadığı konusunda yeni araştırmalara gereksinim vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Damar sertliği, otoimmun hastalıklar, mekanizmalar

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