Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of
both atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The role of the IL-6/IL-6 receptor pathway in
the documented acceleration of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis has not been
examined. In a non-randomized prospective pilot study we asked whether endothelial
dysfunction, defined as impaired flow mediated dilatation (FMD), and aortic stiffness,
assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) improve after 3 and 6 monthly therapeutic infusions …