• Antirheumatic therapy is associated with reduced complement activation in rheumatoid arthritis 

      Nguyen, Thao; Hokstad, Ingrid; Fagerland, Morten; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Hollan, Ivana; Feinberg, Mark W.; Hjeltnes, Gunnbjørg; Eilertsen, Gro Østli; Mikkelsen, Knut; Agewall, Stefan (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-02-25)
      Background The complement system plays an important role in pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and might be involved in accelerated atherogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The role of complement activation in response to treatment, and in development of premature CVD in RA, is limited. Therefore, we examined the effects of methotrexate (MTX) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors ...
    • Antirheumatic therapy is not associated with changes in circulating N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels in patients with autoimmune arthritis 

      Nguyen, Thao H.P.; Fagerland, Morten; Deyab, Gia; Hjeltnes, Gunnbjørg; Hollan, Ivana; Feinberg, Mark W.; Eilertsen, Gro Østli; Mikkelsen, Knut; Agewall, Stefan (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-06-25)
      Background: Patients with autoimmune arthritis (AA) are at increased risk for impaired cardiac function and heart failure. This may be partly due to the effect of inflammation in heart function. The impact of antirheumatic drugs on cardiac dysfunction in AA remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to examine effects of antirheumatic treatment on serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ...