Highly-Sensitive Cardiac Troponin-I and Beta-2-Glycoprotein-I IgA Antibodies May Guide Atherosclerosis Screening and Surveillance in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Methods. The sample included 144 patients with complete biomarker data who underwent plaque evaluation coronary computed tomography angiography; 95 were re-imaged within 6.9±0.3 years. Presence of >5 segments or artery calcium >100 constituted extensive disease; lesions rendering >50% stenosis considered obstructive. Framingham 2008 cardiovascular risk score was in all models. Results. Hs-cTnI added to the increased area-under-the curve (AUC) from 0.710 0.729 and improved prediction accuracy for baseline presence [Net Reclassification Improvement =0.538 (95% confidence interval 0.143-0.895)] Integrated Discrimination (IDI) =0.035 (0.001-0.128). In contrast, a-b2GPI-IgA did not, combination offered no benefit over hs-cTnI alone. While alone not predict progression, (p=0.005), especially >median (p=0.015). hs-cTnI, adding a model predicting progression non-extensive/non-obstructive extensive/obstructive AUC 0.796 0.878 precision [IDI=0.277 (0.011-0.946)]. Conclusion. High significantly may trigger an initial non-invasive atherosclerosis evaluation. A-b2GPI-IgA justify follow-up interrogation non-extensive, non-obstructive at baseline.