Plasma pentraxin 3 is associated with progression of radiographic joint damage, but not carotid atherosclerosis, in female rheumatoid arthritis patients: 3-year prospective study

<b>Background:</b> Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has an important role in inflammation, immunity, and atherosclerosis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease featuring both joint damage and atherosclerosis. We investigated whether the plasma PTX3 level was associated with progression of joint destruction and subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. <b>Methods:</b> Plasma PTX3 levels were measured in 72 women with RA and 80 female control subjects. In RA patients, we also evaluated clinical characteristics, medications, and at one and three years, joint damage and atherosclerosis. Then we investigated whether PTX3 was associated with progression of joint destruction or an increase of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). <b>Results:</b> Plasma PTX3 levels were significantly higher in the RA patients than in healthy controls (4.05 ± 2.91 ng/mL vs. 1.61 ± 1.05 ng/mL, <i>p</i> <b>Conclusion:</b> Female RA patients had elevated plasma PTX3 levels compared with control female subjects. PTX3 was independently associated with radiographic progression of joint damage in the RA patients, but not with carotid atherosclerosis.