Having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to at least double the chances of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) -- one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK -- because of links to atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque inside the arteries), heart failure and strokes.

A two-year study by the University of Leeds has for the first time linked treatment of RA with improvements in vascular stiffness -- an indicator of CVD.

The findings could influence treatment of the UK's 400,000 RA sufferers -- particularly those who have just developed the condition -- and highlights the need to consider the increased risk factor of CVD for those patients.

The study, published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, was jointly led by Sven Plein, Professor of Cardiology at Leeds' School of Medicine, and Maya Buch, Professor of Rheumatology, formerly at Leeds and now at the University of Manchester.

The team had set out to explore possible connections between the very earliest signs of RA and indicators of CVD.

At the start of the study, detailed MRI heart scans were given to 82 patients with no known heart issues.

The scans revealed the presence of increased vascular stiffness in the aorta, which is a gradual loss of elasticity in the large arteries, compared to healthy people.

There was also evidence of cardiac scarring and changes in the wall of the left ventricle (the heart's main pumping chamber), suggesting heart abnormalities had started before the RA diagnosis.

Professor Plein said: "Our research shows that even at the earliest stages of rheumatoid arthritis, there is increased vascular stiffness in people with no or minimal traditional CVD risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol or smoking."

After their initial scans, the 82 patients were given one of two RA drug courses. After a year of treatment, further scans were then carried out on 71 of the patients.

The scans revealed that the vascular stiffness of the aorta (the main artery) had improved during the RA therapy.

Professor Plein added: "The rheumatoid arthritis treatment improved vascular stiffness, regardless of how the patient responded to the RA medication.

"These improvements in vascular stiffness independently of response to RA treatment were unexpected.

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