AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS - PROBLEMS OF TREATMENT

Abstract

The problem of comorbidity is one of the most important problems in clinical immunology. The commonest non-organ specific autoimmune diseases — rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis are linked with accelerated atherosclerosis progression and increased cardiovascular risk. In autoimmune disorders associated with comorbidities the use of multitargeted drugs holds a promise. Examples of such drugs include the inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (statins) and agonists of PPARα (fibrates) which exert antiinflammatory, immunomodulating, and anti-atherogenic activities. In this review we summarize our own research on statins and fibrates pre-clinical pharmacology, their efficacy and safety in patients with RA and psoriasis.

Keywords

• rheumatoid arthritis
• psoriasis
• statins
• fibrates