Yamamoto H, et al. - Among Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), researchers sought risk factors for atherosclerosis via physical examinations, laboratory tests and ultrasonography on the study subjects, in addition to querying about their lifestyle. They identified atherosclerosis in 238 patients (52%). Findings revealed a relationship between Disease Activity Score of 28 joints—erythrocyte sedimentation rate to the size and number of plaques; only traditional risk factors were noted to be related to maximum carotid intima media thickness. This suggests a possible effect of the inflammatory circumstances of RA on the development of atherosclerotic plaques. In patients with RA, they suggest controlling RA disease activity in addition to controlling traditional risk factors for the management of cardiovascular disease.