Some Arthritis Medications also Lower Risk of Heart Attack

A new study conducted by researchers at University of Manchester in the UK has found that some medicines used in treating inflammation among rheumatoid arthritis patients can also help reduce their risk of heart attacks. Researchers led by Dr William Dixon studied two groups of arthritic patients, one who were treated with only anti-TNF medications and the other who took only traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The researchers found that the group that took only anti-TNF medications had fewer heart attacks compared to the group that was treated with DMARDs.

“Rheumatologists can be reassured that treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis with anti-TNF therapy may lead not just to an improvement in joint symptoms, but also a reduction in the rate of [heart attacks] in the medium term”, Dr Dixson said.



Source-Medindia