Hiya,

Do you know where I can find out more about heart complications with RA? I know there is increased risk but I am not sure what of. My mum died from a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta when she was 49 and the autopsy was inconclusive in establishing whether this was from a hereditary cause or from trauma at some point during her life. As I had not been diagnosed with any autoimmune diseases at that point I did not look further into this.

She was never diagnosed with RA but did have osteoarthritis due to physical disabilities, however, she did seem to go through bad patches with her arthritis (very similar to mine) and, looking back, may have suffered with a mild form of crohn's so I wouldn't necessarily rule it out. Apart from my RA, I am in a low risk group so am generally not taken seriously when trying to find out more info from doctors as the doctors who may have the expertise don't know me well enough and assume I am a bit panicky and a hypochondriac, particularly as mum was never diagnosed with these illnesses. Mum's medical history also gives a lot of other risk factors for heart issues but the autopsy seemed to indicate it was not caused by any of these.

I would like more info about how RA can affect the heart so I know whether I need to push some sort of proper CV monitoring but am struggling to find much. Any ideas where I could look/who I should speak to?

Thanks

Sarah

Sarah

I do know from other members of this forum and one lady who is no longer a member that RA can affect organs as well as bones. I believe it can affect your heart, lungs, eyes and the list goes on. I am sure that it has been talked about on previous posts so you may be able to search and find some information.

Can I suggest that you speak to the NRAS helpline as they will be able to give you further information and maybe put you in touch with someone who can talk to you on a one to one basis.

I think I read somewhere that there is an initiative possibly being started where all RA patients must be given a thorough yearly "MOT". At the moment my GP thinks it is the Rheumy's team responsibility and vice versa. I think the emphasis is being put more on the patient to shout up and say what care they need rather than waiting for the medical team to get around to it.

Hope someone can help you with further information.

Take care

Jackie
xx

Hi Sarah

At my last appointment in Nov last year my rheummy nurse told me that I should get my cholesterol checked. I asked my GP and she was happy to send me for a blood test. It turns out I have high cholesterol so she put me on a low dose of statins. However, I do accept that I was eating a high fat diet so am taking steps to rectify that- hard worK as I love cheese, chocolate, cakes, biscuits and pastries! I have high blood pressure but that is being monitored. To add to the mix, my ankles get swollen. I've got a history of heart disease in both my mum and dad- dad had 2 heart attacks and a quadruple bypass .I also suffer from stress so in all honesty, it might be that none of my problems are due to RA at the moment but maybe the combination of it all might mean that I am more at risk. These things seem to have started in the last 5 yrs since I was diagnosed with RA but I can't be sure that there is a link- it could be that there is an underlying problem and it would have happened anyway! Next week I'm going to have an echocardiogram as a slight heart murmur was picked up. As I understand, that tests the flow of blood through the heart and is more useful than the usual ECG. I don't know if patients can request one- I was referred by a hospital doctor.It might be worth asking your GP. I've also been referred to a cardiologist so i will ask them about RA. Unfortunately it's not until March so I can't pass on any info to you at the moment!


I hope you can get some answers soon.

Maria

Hello Sarah

Welcome to the forum!!!!

Last year there was something on the NRAS homepage about how we are at greater risk of having heart problems, strokes, lung disease and various other things. I have recently started anti tnf's and last Friday I had my first assessment. i asked the nurse about this and asked why we are not given a yearly check for all of this. She said that patients years ago would be more likely to get these problems, but now they treat RA differently the risk as gone. She told me that years ago drugs such as DMARD's were only given when bone damaged had occurred. If a patient was having a bad time with a flare they would be admitted to hospital and put on bed rest until it calmed down. Things now are so different, especially now that anti tnf's are being used. She also said that we are monitored so much that if anything was wrong they would pick it up and deal with it straight away. She also said that it was men who were more likely to develop problems than women.

But after she said all of this she did say that one of the consultants (not mine), is doing a trial with some of his patients and they are being monitored for other issues that RA can bring apart from damage to bones. Depending on what the results are it may then be offered to all RA patients at the hospital. The consultant is a Professor at Nottingham University and does alot of research.

I have been told by one of my GP's that if they think I have anything wrong with me related to my RA they will get me fast tracked to see a consultant at the hospital.

Hope it's helped.

Paula x

Kathleen, I really must wear my glasses more
I thought you'd said you had your animals checked at the GP!

Lol

The heart thing- there are troubles with colesterol and heart troubles, alongside other organ troubles aren't unknown
There's amyloidosis of kidneys etc
The other problems has been that ra patients tend to be less fit
Take steroids and other heavy meds
Causing heart troubles as a side effect

Hope you are doing ok today