title: Atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients--the role of microinflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease, and the risk for coronary heart disease is higher among the hemodialysis (HD) patients than in the general population. This excess risk for coronary heart disease is not entirely explained by traditional risk factors for CVDs. The aim of the study was to determine possible correlations between asymptomatic atherosclerosis and inflammatory markers (high sensitivity CRP [hsCRP], interleukin 6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin 2 receptor [IL-2R], and selective adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) in HD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, 95 HD patients, 56 (59%) male and 39 (41%) female, were included. The mean age was 60 +/- 13 years, ranging from 22-81 years. Using B-mode ultrasonography (US), we measured intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque occurrence (markers of asymptomatic atherosclerosis) in carotid arteries in these patients. In the 1-4 weeks after US examination, we took blood samples from patients to determine serum concentrations of inflammatory markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IMT value was 0.83 +/- 0.21 mm, ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm. The plaques were found in 63 (84%) of HD patients. Correlations between IMT values and serum concentrations of IL-2R (r = 0.269; p < 0.022) and VCAM-1 (r = 0.290; p < 0.014) were found. Multiple linear regression analysis showed relationship between IMT values and IL-2R (p = 0.049). No relationship between inflammatory markers and plaques was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that atherosclerosis in HD patients correlates with some nontraditional risk factors--the markers of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Department of Dialysis, University Medical Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. sebastjanb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sebastjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bevc
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabic
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hojs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein