TNF-α inhibitor etanercept improves cerebrovascular function in elderly RA patients: findings from a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Elderly RA patients face a significantly elevated risk of cerebrovascular events, the core mechanism of which may be related to chronic inflammation-mediated vascular endothelial dysfunction and impaired cerebral blood flow regulation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a key pro-inflammatory cytokine in RA, yet whether its inhibitor can improve cerebral hemodynamics remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of TNF-α inhibitor etanercept on cerebral blood flow in elderly RA patients.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the TNF-α inhibitor Etanercept on cerebral hemodynamics in elderly RA patients and to explore the relationships between changes in inflammatory markers, endothelial function, and cerebral hemodynamics.
Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 159 elderly RA patients in mild disease activity, recruited from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Xi'an No.5 Hospital between November 2023 and November 2024, were enrolled. Baseline data were collected, and patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (TNF-α inhibitor + Methotrexate + Celecoxib) or the control group (Methotrexate + Celecoxib). Before treatment and after 6 months of treatment, transcranial Doppler (TCD) was…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 159 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults With Obesity: The SURMOUNT-4 Randomized Clinical Trial
- Clinical Trial of Vadadustat in Patients with Anemia Secondary to Stage 3 or 4 Chronic Kidney Disease
- Human Leukocyte Antigen Complex and Other Immunogenetic and Clinical Factors Influence Susceptibility or Protection to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severity of the Disease Course. The Sardinian Experience
- Celecoxib or naproxen treatment does not benefit depressive symptoms in persons aged 70 and over: findings from a randomized controlled trial
- Comparative Clinical Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Treatment Methods in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Efficacy and safety of adalimumab by intra-articular injection for moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis: An open-label randomized controlled trial
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.