The Composition of the HDL Particle and Its Capacity to Remove Cellular Cholesterol Are Associated with a Reduced Risk of Developing Active Inflammatory Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the risk of cardiovascular death is 50% higher compared to the general population. This increased risk is partly due to the systemic inflammation characteristic of RA and changes in the lipoprotein profiles. This study investigated plasma lipid levels, lipid ratios, and the composition and functionality of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in control individuals and RA subjects based on the disease's inflammatory score (DAS28).