Carotid intima-media thickness correlated with age and pulse wave velocity in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of mortality in the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were performed to determine atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness as cardiovascular risk markers. Patients and Methods: The data of 31 patients with AAV were compared with 21 healthy controls. Demographic and laboratory findings were recorded. Results: Seventeen patients (54.8%) were male. Mean age was 52.6±11.5 years. CIMT was higher in the patient group [0.74 (0.65 – 0.84) vs 0.63 (0.57-0.74) mm; p=0.048]. PWV [7.9 (6.7-9.3) vs 7.8 (6.8-8.5) m/s; p=0.295] and augmentation index (AI) [22.5 (11.0-30.0) vs. 23 (9.5-30.5) mm/Hg, p=0.801] were similar in both groups. CIMT was correlated with age (r: 0.538, p<0.001) and PWV (r: 0.554 p< 0.001) while there was no correlation with AI (r: 0.047, p= 0.764). Conclusion: The present study showed that CIMT is significantly increased and correlated with age and PWV in patients with AAV compared to controls. CIMT can be used as a screening tool as part of patient follow-up to identify patients at cardiac risk.

Keywords

• ANCA-associated vasculitis
• Cardiovascular risk
• Carotid intima media thickness
• Pulse wave velocity

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