TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: However, arteriosclerosis development in RA is related to chronic inflammation, apolipoproteins, and anti-phosphorylcholine IgM presence [10]. Several recent studies investigated the effects of RA therapy on mortality, CVD, and arteriosclerosis [4]. Van Doornum et al. reported that six weeks of treatment with TNF antagonists did not improve arterial stiffness despite significant reductions in synovitis and inflammatory markers in 14 patients with RA [11].