{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,30]],"date-time":"2026-05-30T01:36:44Z","timestamp":1780105004126,"version":"3.54.0"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]],"date-time":"2024-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726272000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive investigation, which allows for the study of the microvasculature (anatomical and functional). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular atherosclerotic diseases, with endothelial dysfunction (macrovascular and microvascular) representing the first step in atherosclerosis development. The aim of this study is represented by the assessment of microvascular endothelial dysfunction in RA patients by means of nailfold capillaroscopy and to assess its evolution after a period of 12 months of anti TNF-alpha treatment. The study included 70 consecutive patients with RA and 70 healthy subjects, matched for age and gender, as the control group. Rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, serum TNF-\u03b1, C reactive protein, and erythrocytes sedimentation rate were evaluated in all patients, but in controls, only rheumatoid factor, serum TNF-\u03b1, C reactive protein, and erythrocytes sedimentation rate were measured. The RA activity was measured by DAS28. Nailfold capillaroscopy was carried out in all patients and controls, determining the baseline nailfold capillary density (Db), nailfold capillary density during reactive hyperemia (Dh), and nailfold capillary density after venous congestion (Dc). Data were presented as mean \u00b1 standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Pearson\u2019s correlation, with p &lt; 0.05 being statistically significant. Db, Dh, and Dc were lower in RA patients than in controls (p &lt; 0.0001), correlating with RA activity and TNF-\u03b1 (p &lt; 0.05). After 12 months of anti TNF-\u03b1 treatment, microvascular endothelial dysfunction improved (p &lt; 0.0001). Microvascular endothelial dysfunction can be assessed by nailfold capillaroscopy, with anti TNF-\u03b1 medication contributing to its improvement.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms25189925","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,18]],"date-time":"2024-09-18T01:52:31Z","timestamp":1726624351000},"page":"9925","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Anti TNF-Alpha Treatment Improves Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Alexandru","family":"Caraba","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Third Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Rheumatology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy \u201cVictor Babe\u0219\u201d, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1127-7691","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oana","family":"Stancu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, \u201cVictor Popescu\u201d Military Hospital, 300080 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Viorica","family":"Cri\u0219an","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy \u201cVictor Babe\u0219\u201d, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9622-6618","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Doina","family":"Georgescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Semiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy \u201cVictor Babe\u0219\u201d, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"466","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.112921.1","article-title":"Accelerated atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review","volume":"11","author":"Raj","year":"2022","journal-title":"F1000Research"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1016\/j.berh.2018.10.005","article-title":"Update on the epidemiology, risk factors, and disease outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis","volume":"32","author":"Woude","year":"2018","journal-title":"Best Pract. 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