title: Different risk factors for the maximum and the mean carotid intima-media thickness in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography has been widely used for the noninvasive assessment of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. But, there are two major methods of carotid ultrasonography: one including plaque and the other excluding plaque.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 112 hemodialysis patients (58 men and 54 women) with a mean age of 55.8 +/- 13.0 years. The maximum intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery (including plaque) was measured as an index of arterial wall thickening and atheroma formation, while the mean IMT (without plaque) was measured as an index of arterial wall thickening. In addition the value of (maximum-mean) IMT was calculated as an index of atheroma formation. Therefore, the independent risk factors associated with the maximum IMT, mean IMT, and (maximum-mean) IMT were investigated by stepwise multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The independent risk factors associated with the maximum IMT were age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) (R = 0.569, p < 0.0001), while factors associated with the mean IMT were age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, intact PTH, and lipoprotein (a) (R = 0.602, p < 0.0001). The independent risk factors associated with the (maximum-mean) IMT were age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and intact PTH (R = 0.515, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that risk factors for the maximum IMT and mean IMT are somewhat different in hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Harada Hospital, Hiroshima.
authors.forename: Ayumu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yorioka
authors.forename: Yukiteru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asakimori
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masaki
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shigemoto
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods