Variáveis associadas à evolução clínica da artrite reumatoide

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic and systemic inflammation of the joints (synovial membrane). The disease is associated with autoimmune and environmental factors and demonstrates different pathogenic mechanisms. The inflammatory process causes joint destruction causing synovitis. Innate immunity cells participate in the inflammatory response as presenting antigens and through the release of pro- inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the production of autoantibodies by B lymphocytes in the joints and the release of cytokines by T cells contribute to tissue damage. Drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, glucocorticoids and disease-modifying drugs - synthetic and biological. The disease has a progression leading to systemic complications, such as cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the variables associated with the clinical evolution of rheumatoid arthritis in 54 patients. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the DAS 28 was calculated through physical examination or medical record evaluation. The study demonstrated that lifestyle can interfere in the evolution of rheumatoid arthritis, since who do not smoke or never smoked are more likely to be in remission and low disease activity. Drug treatment may have an influence on the evolution of the disease, since the use of corticosteroids associated with the biological drug indicated lower DAS 28 values in relation to patients who administered only corticosteroids. These results suggest that the habit of smoking can interfere in the activity of rheumatoid arthritis associated with the moderate and high degree of the disease. In addition, the use of biologicals drug has been shown to be associated with reduced disease activity.