Does methotrexate have an effect on cardiovascular disease in RA?

Taken from NRAS magazine, Spring 2010

This was the question researchers at Poole, London, Cambridge, York and Southampton aimed to answer by undertaking a systematic literature review. People with RA have an increased occurrence of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease because of traditional risk factors and chronic inflammation.

The doctors searched databases and conference proceedings dating back to 1980 and reviewers independently assessed each title and abstract for relevance and quality. They reviewed several relevant studies and concluded that the evidence suggests that using methotrexate for RA is linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease events.