Objective. Assessment of the relationships between GFR, traditional CVD risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in RA patients.
Material and methods. The study included 73 patients with RA aged 18 to 60 years who did not have concomitant kidney disease. GFR was calculated using the CKD-EPI formula. The relationship between GFR and traditional CVD risk factors and carotid IMT was assessed.
Results. The majority (84%) of patients was female; average age was 48 (36–54) years; patients with moderate and high arthritis activity of the III X-ray stage prevailed. Relationships between GFR and body mass index
(r=-0.414; p<0.001), total cholesterol level (r=-0.402; p<0.001), SCORE scale (r=-0.529; p<0.001) were revealed. In patients with RA, carotid IMT was more pronounced than in non-arthritic patients (p<0.001). Atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) in the carotid arteries were detected in 22.5% of patients with RA, while the majority of patients belonged to the group of low and moderate risk. In patients with ASP in the carotid arteries, GFR was significantly lower than in patients without plaques: 80.18±12.55 and 91.15±16.36 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p=0.011).
Conclusion. In patients with RA, GFR is associated with traditional CVD risk factors and severity of atherosclerosis. Assessment of CVD risk in patients with RA based only on traditional risk factors does not reflect the true risk for CVD.

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, glomerular filtration rate, cardiovascular risk, intima-media thickness