The state of the vasculo-endothelial growth factor in rheumatoid arthritis
The state of the blood cytokine vasculo-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), depending on the activity of the inflammatory process, clinical form, radiographic grade, duration of the disease, as well as the cytokine dynamics under the influence of drug therapy. In patients with RA the high levels of the proinflammatory cytokine VEGF in blood were registered, compared to the norm. As the degree of disease activity increased, the level of VEGF rose. In 3 months under the influence of drug therapy with prednisolone in combination with methotrexate and atorvastatin in patients with RA along with a positive clinical effect, there was a significant decrease in VEGF, in contrast to patients who did not receive atorvastatin as a part of their therapy. Inclusion of atorvastatin in the combined treatment had a more pronounced clinical effect, as atorvastatin has an antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory effect. In order to increase the efficiency of pharmacotherapy it is recommended to include atorvastatin in the combined therapy of RA.