Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Atherosclerosis and Other Cardiovascular Manifestations of Rheumatologic Diseases

Nicolas Palaskas, Nasser Lakkis and Rashed Tabbaa

Prevalance and importance of cardiovascular diseaes have continued to increase as therapeutic advances has led to increasing life expectancy, and better understanding of the role of the immune system in initiation and progression of inflamation and atherosclerosis. Thus, the need for better understanding of the relationship of rheumatologic diseases and cardiovascular disoders is paramount to permit more effective preventive and therapeutic approches. In our review, we tried whenever applicable, to categorize cardiovascular invovlement as atherosclerosis, myocardial, valvular, and pericardial.