Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included in this randomized, double-blind, crossover study to receive ramipril in an uptitration design (2.5 to 10 mg) for 8 weeks followed by placebo, or vice versa, on top of standard antiinflammatory therapy. Endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and disease activity were investigated at baseline and after each treatment period. Endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation increased from 2.85+/-1.49% to 4.00+/-1.81% (P=0.017) after 8 weeks of therapy with ramipril but did not change with placebo (from 2.85+/-1.49% to 2.84+/-2.47%; P=0.88). Although systolic blood pressure and heart rate remained unaltered, diastolic blood pressure decreased slightly from 78+/-7 to 74+/-6 mm Hg (P=0.03). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha showed a significant inverse correlation with flow-mediated dilation (r=-0.408, P=0.02), and CD40 significantly decreased after ramipril therapy (P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Andreas J Flammer, Isabella Sudano, Frank Hermann, Steffen Gay, Adrian Forster, Michel Neidhart, Peter Künzler, Frank Enseleit, Daniel Périat, Matthias Hermann, Juerg Nussberger, Thomas F Luscher, Roberto Corti, Georg Noll, Frank Ruschitzka |
Journal | Circulation
(Circulation)
Vol. 117
Issue 17
Pg. 2262-9
(Apr 29 2008)
ISSN: 1524-4539 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 18427133
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
- Biomarkers
- Ramipril
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
(administration & dosage)
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
(complications, epidemiology)
- Atherosclerosis
(epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Biomarkers
- Cells, Cultured
- Cross-Over Studies
- Endothelial Cells
(cytology, drug effects, physiology)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Oxidative Stress
(drug effects)
- Ramipril
(administration & dosage)
- Renin-Angiotensin System
(drug effects)
- Risk Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Umbilical Veins
(cytology)
- Vasculitis
(epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Vasodilation
(drug effects)
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