Sjogren's Disease and Elevated Cardiovascular Risk: Mechanisms and Treatment.

Abstract

Autoimmune disorders are known to accelerate atherosclerosis, increasing the rate of cardiovascular disease. As the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the general population, this risk is only enhanced in inflammatory conditions. Substantial evidence links increased cardiovascular disease to systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. However, Sjogren's Disease (SjD) tends to follow a more indolent disease course, and its chronic inflammatory burden is often underrecognized. Pharmacologic agents are also limited and symptom management is often the mainstay of treatment. The majority of studies investigating cardiovascular disease in SjD show conflicting results. In this review, we shed some light on the association of SjD and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we also explore potential risk factors and mechanisms through which SjD may accelerate cardiovascular disease. We address the impact of standard CVD and SjD treatments on heart health and highlight clinically relevant tools for monitoring subclinical atherosclerosis in the SjD patient population.