PPAR-gamma Agonists, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cardiovascular Disease

Summary

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a significantly higher risk to develop heart attacks and other complications of their blood vessels. New therapies are needed to prevent this complication. The purpose of this study is to establish the role of the medication pioglitazone in improving the function of the blood vessels and heart and decreasing the risk of future atherosclerosis development in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. As a secondary aim-point, we will evaluate the efficacy of pioglitazone in improving rheumatoid arthritis disease activity and markers of inflammation.

Timeline

Start

2007-11

Primary completion

2012-10

Completion

2013-01

Publications

• Background Marder W, Khalatbari S, Myles JD, Hench R, Yalavarthi S, Lustig S, Brook R, Kaplan MJ. Interleukin 17 as a novel predictor of vascular function in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011 Sep;70(9):1550-5. doi: 10.1136/ard.2010.148031. Epub 2011 Jul 4.
• Background Zhao W, Berthier CC, Lewis EE, McCune WJ, Kretzler M, Kaplan MJ. The peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-gamma agonist pioglitazone modulates aberrant T cell responses in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol. 2013 Oct;149(1):119-32. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2013.07.002. Epub 2013 Jul 20.
• Marder W, Khalatbari S, Myles JD, Hench R, Lustig S, Yalavarthi S, Parameswaran A, Brook RD, Kaplan MJ. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma pioglitazone improves vascular function and decreases disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2013 Nov 19;2(6):e000441. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.113.000441.

Drugs

Indications